Seth sits on the potty and puts his face in his hands, dejected.
“What’s wrong, buddy?”
His shoulders slump and he looks up at me with the saddest face. His dark eyes a striking contrast to his blond hair.
“I’m having a hard time.” He says. He looks down again and his shoulders droop even further.
“With what? What happened?” I ask, taking a seat on the bathroom stool.
“First,” he sighs big, “you said I was a bad sport.”
Oh God. Did I say he was a bad sport?
I did.
Just a couple of hours ago.
He’s at the age where he wants to compete in everything, but if he doesn’t win, he throws a fit. We were in the basement, riding bikes, and he wanted to race, but when I lapped him (here's your visual, me on Riley’s tiny bike, complete with training wheels) he got hysterical.
“Seth, you’re a bad sport.”
I really said it.
He continues,
“Then my helmet fell off, and when I tried to get it, I tipped over.”
Yes, he did. It's all true.
“Anything else?” I ask.
He shrugs. Taps. Flushes. Washes his hands.
“Seth, you’re not a bad sport, okay? Mommy shouldn't have said that. You’re just little and you're still learning to be a good sport. That’s all. I’m so sorry."
He falls into my arms and we sit like that on the bathroom floor for a long time.
I can’t get the look in his eyes out of my head.
About Me
- Michelle O'Neil
- I've written for Literary Mama,The Imperfect Parent,Cool Cleveland,The Mad as Hell Club and the anthologies pictured below. I'm also a contributor to Hopeful Parents. In recent former lives, I worked in radio news and as a registered nurse. I blog about one Hot Toddy,two great kiddos,spirituality, autism and whatever else tickles me. Our daughter Riley is nine and has Asperger's,our son Seth is seven. Thanks for stopping! Make yourself at home.
Anthologies I've contributed to:
Countdown to Riley's Service Dog
I support gay marriage
Blog Roll
- 4 Paws for Ability
- 4 Paws for Kheira
- Author Mom With Dogs
- Carnal Zen
- Changing Trains
- Charlie the North Star Dog
- Courtney Sheinmel
- Creative Ink
- DC IMPACT
- Drama Mama
- Fully Caffeinated
- GMO-FREE SHOPPING GUIDE
- Healing and Preventing Autism
- Hopeful Parents
- Identity Crisis
- Incipient Turvy
- Indiebound.org
- Jennifer Lauck
- Jess Wilson
- Kario
- Kim Stagliano
- Laura Goodin
- Lend 4 Health
- Lessons from Liberty
- Lisa Romeo
- Literary Mama
- Look Me In The Eye
- Mad As Hell Club
- MB12
- Mercurious
- Normal Films
- Pixie Mama
- Real(tor) Thoughts
- Reflections on the Pond
- Roughly Speaking
- Teachings of Abraham
- TED Talks
- Teen Autism
- The Believing Soul
- The Daily Puppy
- The Pioneer Woman
- This Mom
- Working With Words
- Writer Unboxed
6 comments:
But at least you've got him tapping!
poor baby--my kids are still bad sports--not sure they outgrow it. In fact, you should see me on the tennis court.
you did the right thing in the end, michelle! absolutely.
(and, did I mention recently? you're such a great mother. seriously, seriously, seriously.)
Let's look at the big picture.
Your child can say, "I'm having a hard time," rather than have a tantrum. Your child trusts you with his truth. Your bathroom floor is clean enough for cuddle time with a hurt child.
It's all good. And you are a GREAT mother.
Oh God the guilt. I know.
I got so mad at Wyatt for no good reason the other day, and the hurt in his little face, and how he tried hard not to cry...Oh. My. Gosh. I am SUCH a bitchy mom sometimes. Uuugggg. I hated myself after. Even after hugging him for a long time and telling him what a good boy he really was, and how grumpy I am. i still felt horrible.
But Jerri is right in all that she she said. And you ARE a good good mom! (And I wouldn't dare cuddle on my bathroom floor.)
:)
Okay, let's get this straight.
I didn't say we SHOULD have sat on the bathroom floor.
I merely said we DID.
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