Put a sick and cranky child together with an agitated parent and the end result is one tight slap across the little cheek. *OUCH*
Let’s just say Gavin has been luckless this whole weekend. First, his grandparents came over yesterday and created new troubles for him. One caused him to fall over and bumped his forehead badly. The other insisted he shouldn’t have rice, but vermicelli for dinner and that caused him to go hungry in the middle of the night.
It also didn’t help that he has been exceptionally difficult despite ALL our efforts to please and make him comfortable. The boy has been whining incessantly, throwing tantrums and at some point, even screaming like a banshee. It almost drove me insane! I admit I had lost my temper and raised my voice at him a few times but I was careful not to upset him too much. So, no. I wasn’t the one who slapped him even though I usually smack him if he tries to be funny. But this time, I thought he ought to be spared because he is sick and I didn’t want him to cry too much for fear of aggravating his condition.
However because he is sounding and looking better, we’re also aware that he is trying to take advantage of his illness to get a lot more unnecessary attention. So the boy finally got on his dad’s nerve when he was crying and whining endlessly during his lunch no matter what we did to appease him. Daddy scooped Gavin up from his seat and took the boy to the bedroom for a time out session. By that time, the boy was already bawling. I quickly intervened, picked Gavin up to comfort him but the crying antagonised the dad even more and the next minute I heard the sound of a slap. I was shocked and quickly sheltered the boy from his angry dad. While trying to pacify the boy, I had to reason with his dad that more crying could cause Gavin breathing difficulties. I also pointed out that the slap has left some red marks on his right cheek.
Anyway, after much hoo-ha, the boy eventually stopped crying but started to whine again. This time, his dad took out a ruler threatening to hit him. The whining immediately stopped and I was able to have him continue with his lunch. There was still a bit of threatening during lunch but I did not intervene. It’s good that he’s afraid of his dad and that helped to keep him under control. Like just now, when he woke up crying but the mention of his dad kept him quiet and I was able to soothe him to sleep again.
It’s really hard work being parents. Even harder when the kid falls ill, becomes cranky and gets on your nerve.
Hope that Gavin is on the mend. Somebody once told me that kids need love and attention most when they don’t deserve it…
I’ve had quite a tiring week too because Ophelia was having an erratic fever. But she’s too zonked out by the medication to whine too much. Most of the time she was “nuahing” on the sofa in front of the telly. I was busy cooking, cleaning, nursing etc etc etc…
Comment by the diva — Sun, 5 Feb 2006 @ 10:49 pm
Oh boy.. hope he’s feeling better already. Sometimes kids do take advantage of the situation and we have put them into perspective.
In our house, I’m the fierce one. I smack Zara’s hand or tigh when she’s being naughty. Daddy is always trying to reason with her..
The other day I told her about the story of Monkey God.. now I said if she’s naughty, Monkey God will come and beat her with a stick.. these 2 days, she hasn’t dared to be naughty.
Comment by zara's mama — Sun, 5 Feb 2006 @ 11:15 pm
“Ouch”!!
isn’t it funny.. that when we mummies spank our children.. we donch feel so hurt as if “daddies” does the spanking.
I’m very much like you ..SS..! when Papa BoK loses his patience with Chloe, when she becomes impossible .. i try to reason with him.. and tell him.. not to let her cry so late.. or something along those lines.
Sometimes.. my chloe would just whine and become unconsolable for no reason whatsoever. Papa BoK says i spoilt her.. but how can i punish her.. if i didn’t quite understand.. what she was whining about..?? like is she sick..? not feel good in the tummy, headache..?? gums hurt..?? Stuff that i cannot comprehend now.. because she cannot explain herself too well… right now. So how can i get mad with her..right..?? For i always think.. she must be trying to tell me something.. and i’m just not understanding it… that’s all.
It is definitely not easy to be a parent.. ! and more taxing .. when the child is ill..! i agree totally with you on that.!
Comment by Mama BoK — Mon, 6 Feb 2006 @ 4:13 am
I’m the one who would spank Damien on his legs, hands or butt if he misbehaves but my heart ache whenever Hubby raised his hands on Damien! See, i can use the rod but the daddy can’t..hehe..
I read this somewhere ~ “…remember that the only thing harder than being a parent…is being a child” quite true huh…:)
Comment by Eileen — Mon, 6 Feb 2006 @ 9:38 am
Oh oh! Gavin got on daddy’s nerve
Both you and Gavin must have been shock. Kid’s whining does really make people go crazy. Very often, it’s either me or hubby that will get the cane out, if Eu cannot be reasoned with. Fortunately, it’s never both parents, so at least, there’s one parent with the clear mind to make sure things do not get out of hand. Hard work, man!
Comment by kwai yoke — Mon, 6 Feb 2006 @ 11:53 am
Haiz, being parents nowadays not easy leh.
Comment by ♣Michiko♣ — Mon, 6 Feb 2006 @ 7:16 pm
Can really go mad when the kid whine non-stop. Problem is as parents, we can’t just ignore them. So it depends on your threshold level! Some days when having PMS, my threshold is almost zilch! Like now, giving him his medication can be so challenging - I want to pull out my hair. :eek:
Comment by sesame — Mon, 6 Feb 2006 @ 7:36 pm
You have to have the patience of a saint not to get angry with a whiny child. I’m the nastier one between my husband and I, and I get very short-tempered with Sara when she acts up. But that’s all part and parcel of parenthood, I guess. Just take a deep breath, walk out of the room and count to 10!
Comment by Hsin — Wed, 8 Feb 2006 @ 8:57 pm