more tantrums

Today I screamed at Jonah until he cried.

We were leaving the house, in the car, having just said goodbye to daddy.

Daddy had seen a scrap of wood on the floor and as he was about to close the car door, he picked up that scrap and took it with him.

We pulled away.

Jonah began his campaign:

Want that piece of wood. Have to turn the car around. Go back and get the wood. I want the woooooooooooooood. Turn AROUUUUUNDDDD!

No, I said. I am not turning around for a piece of wood. There are lots of pieces of wood in the world. We find them every time we go out.

Want the wood. Turn the car around!

No.

Wood.

No.

Wood.

Jonah, stop. I am not turning around. Stop asking for the wood.

Wood.

No.

Wood.

No.

Wood.

Jonah, stop. You are making mommy very angry. Stop asking for wood.

Wood.

Wood.

No.

Wood.

(And then I screamed. And I used the word “stupid” as in I’m not going back for a stupid piece of…)

And he cried. Loud, hard, and ANGRY.

And one minute later we picked up my sister who was visiting for the day. Nice welcome.

He stayed angry at me as we got on the freeway, but then he had being on the freeway to complain about.

He hates the freeway. It’s ugly. And I think maybe it’s scary though he hasn’t said that.

We get off two exits later.

There’s construction equipment.

Mommy! Mommy! TWO EXcah-vay-torrs! I saw TWO Excavators! Ayundd TWO jackhammers!

Wood = forgotten.

(But I still feel bad for yelling.)