Anger Management
I can’t even recall the specific incident that started it; they happen so often. 22mo Guppy did something that 4yo Drake didn’t like. Drake hit Guppy, who started to wail. I dragged Drake away from Guppy, and Drake began to wail.
Me: Drake, hands are not for hitting. Hitting hurts. When Guppy makes you angry, take a deep breath and use your words.
Drake: I CAN’T DO THAT! (imagine a crescendo from ff to fff from beginning to end of that statement.)
Me: Sigh. Yeah, buddy. I know. It’s hard. I feel like hitting too.
Poor Drake. He gets so angry so quickly, and of course his 4yo self can hardly process it. My nearly 40yo self often can’t. At my psychiatric checks, my doctor asks if I ever think about harming myself or others, and I feel like asking, “Is that a rhetorical question?” Are there parents out there who NEVER feel like banging their heads against the wall, who are NEVER tempted to give their kid a spanking?