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Why, oh Why, Does My Little Boy Cry?

June 27th, 2007

Kenny is generally the happiest kid you will ever meet.   He is good-natured and patient, persistant, funny, rascally and genuine.   But the last week or so, he has had moments of Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde that make my head want to spin around.   It’s like he becomes possessed for an hour or two a day, and it’s nearly impossible to shake.   Then, as soon as it begins, he’s done and back to his normal, cheery self.

Here is an example from today:

We got home from his gymnastics class and a few post-class errands at 11:15… I usually give him lunch at about 11, and since he started whining in the car , I let him eat a muffin on the way home.   As the car pulled into the garage, his face got red and tears started to streak, “LUUNCH!” he wailed.   I got him out of the car, leaving the groceries in the fridge up there (our garage is about 70 feet uphill from the house), and we walked down the sidewalk together in the 95 degree humidity to the house.   At the front door, he lurched the other way, and screamed, “Play OUTSIDE!” and ran away from me into the yard.   Now I was sweaty, hungry and really had to use the loo, so I scooped him up, calmly said, “no” and carried him inside, where he kicked and screamed on the floor and howled “OUTSIDE!” over and over again.

I ignored him and went in the kitchen to make lunch.   He stopped briefly, then stomped over to the stereo and started crying loudly, “Music ON!   OOOOONNNNN!” and hitting the stereo.   I barely lifted an eyebrow and turned the stereo on by remote, and continued to make lunch.   He wailed again, “Different SONG!” and started banging his arm on the coffee table.

Now let me pause for a minute, lest anyone chastise me for “ignoring” his outbursts.   The same thing happened yesterday, and I took the opposite response, cuddling him and trying to understand how I could help him.   He pushed me away and yelled, “No Mama, No!”

Anyway, lunch was ready, and I told him to go to his chair and we’d eat together.   He started that way, then detoured to play trains.   I picked him up and plunked him into his highchair, where he took one bite of the leftover spinach pizza and cried, “Pieces!” (meaning that he wanted me to cut it up for him, which I did.)   As soon as he saw the bites of pizza on his tray, he screamed, “WHOLE THING!” (meaning that he wanted the piece intact).   I picked him up, kissed him lightly on the forehead and said, “All done, lunch!   Naptime!” and he was asleep in thirty seconds.

Ah, but sleepiness is only a part of it, because the same scenario repeated itself for a full two hours after him nap.   Nothing made him happy; anything and everything I did made him wail.   Then we left the house to go to the bookstore (I had to get out of there) and from the moment we got into the car until bedtime tonight, he was his normal, charming and sweet self.

What gives?   Is this an early onset of the terrible twos?   Some toddler form of puberty?   Low blood-sugar?   Ok, you moms of one and two-year-old boys out there….. HELP!

4 Comments »

  1. Kimmie says

    I’d say the onset of the terrible two’s! He is trying to show you that he is independent (b/c he is just realizing that he CAN be) and probably gets frustrated that he doesn’t know how to do most things yet. I’d say, “this too shall pass”… but I think that the treacherous three’s are worse – 😉

    June 27th, 2007 | #

  2. Milaka says

    I kind of agree with Kimmie. I think it’s the “terrible twos” showing up a bit early to the party. It’s a difficult time! He’s realizing that he has some sort of control over his environment, but not as much as he wants. Also, check his mouth. He could be getting some more teeth – maybe molars – and that might be making him grumpy.

    What I did in times like this (when I wasn’t too frazzled and could remember to do it) was to pray that God would open my eyes to how to help Buddy (or Princess) through the tantrum. Sometimes that was as simple as God giving me the patience to let them cry. Sometimes He would allow me to see a really creative solution. I know that you are a praying person (you have RZIM in your favorites list) so I feel confident in sharing that with you.

    I’ll pray for you, too! Keep us posted.

    Of course, it could be a full moon (we wouldn’t know because it’s been raining for about four days). Buddy (who just turned four) had a meltdown day yesterday. And he’s been Mr. Grumpster for a few days now. Sigh.

    June 28th, 2007 | #

  3. Amanda says

    😉 We’ve been in that mode for a while. Mine is two and a half and he’s so moody you would think he was PMS’ing but NOOOO he’s two. Thank goodness I have an almost five year old to show me there is light at the end of the tunnel (except when he copies his brother and “pretends” he is having a meltdown too….OY vey). Hang in there!

    June 28th, 2007 | #

  4. mommyknight says

    Believe it or not, I think it is a combo of all of the above. Actually, the moon does have something to do with mood. I’m not sure how, but it does. Just like a full moon brings in moms to have babies. I know it sounds like an old wives tale, but as a nurse I can tell you it happens.!!! Maybe try to give him a massage down his sweet back!

    June 29th, 2007 | #

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