Oh the screaming. Clark is three and a half, and boy is he a screamer. He's always been a screamer, but I thought somehow he'd grow out of it once he could form a complete sentence that accurately described his desires. But no. Instead of saying, "Sissy, could I play with that when you're done?" he just screams. And when the gum I have is the wrong shape, boy howdy. It's not infrequently that I careen from the grocery with one hand on the cart and one hand on him just to keep him from vaulting out, his piercing scream the 5 alarm kind. People flinch away from me, or start in surprise, or stare unabashedly, or shake their head, or sometimes smile in pity and sympathy. Yesterday he continued screaming well after I'd gotten him restrained in his seat, and still on while I stood outside the car in the freezing wind and snow while I answered my phone, since I wouldn't be able to hear anything from inside the car.
They're not tantrums, just extremely loud wordless complaints. When they go on and on they certainly qualify as fits, but he never loses control. No it's all very intentional.
I just keep waiting for this stage to pass. It will, won't it?
At the same time, when he's not screaming he's unbearably cute. And I'm aware that both are going to go at once. His baby three-year-old cuteness is just the flip side to eardrum shattering complaint. It's a terrible dichotomy.
Written days later:
Maybe it's not all so intentional, Clark's screaming. Perhaps he can't help it as much as I've believed. Not that this changes much of anything. I still have to deal with it, respond to it, help him find other ways to express himself or take control, and he still has to learn what's acceptable here in this dimension we call society. But it does change my internal attitude toward it a bit. It gives me a little sympathy for him.
They're not tantrums, just extremely loud wordless complaints. When they go on and on they certainly qualify as fits, but he never loses control. No it's all very intentional.
I just keep waiting for this stage to pass. It will, won't it?
At the same time, when he's not screaming he's unbearably cute. And I'm aware that both are going to go at once. His baby three-year-old cuteness is just the flip side to eardrum shattering complaint. It's a terrible dichotomy.
Written days later:
Maybe it's not all so intentional, Clark's screaming. Perhaps he can't help it as much as I've believed. Not that this changes much of anything. I still have to deal with it, respond to it, help him find other ways to express himself or take control, and he still has to learn what's acceptable here in this dimension we call society. But it does change my internal attitude toward it a bit. It gives me a little sympathy for him.
Sympathy's always a good thing.
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2 comments:
Max was not necessarily a screamer but he was so loud, all the time, no matter what he was doing, unless sleeping. Kindergarten has changed him. He has matured and quieted down.
But every once in a while when he is tired or hungry or frustrated, his tornado, volcano erupts and I see that little boy, with the inability to do anything else but erupt.
I erupt too. Can't blame him much.
Yep, right there with you. My toddler is a screamer, too...
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