Today I received a call from Emily, our nanny. She was crying...actually more like sobbing. Apparently Liam threw a fit/tantrum/tirade that lasted two hours. Emily said she did everything that she could think of and nothing would make him stop so she called me in hopes that I could talk some sense into him. Normally unfazed by anything the children do--I'm sure calling me was the last thing she wanted to do...I felt so sorry for her and guilty that my child was causing so much stress. As soon as Liam got on the phone he started sobbing to me telling me he was sorry, and crying to Emily saying he was sorry for being naughty, etc. I asked him why he was acting that way and he said "I don't know!" and then started crying again. I finally got him to calm down but not before letting him know that I was VERY upset and disappointed that he acted that way and was sad he was making Miss Emily cry. Emily got back on the phone and I told her that Liam was going to lose A LOT of stickers off of his star chart, which is when she informed me that he shredded his star chart because he was so angry. This is when I start questioning myself and worrying/wondering "Is my kid normal? Is this typical behavior from a 4 year old boy? Is throwing a two hour fit over the loss of Goldfish crackers the standard preschooler M.O.???"
I was talking to my friend Tammy about it and she claims her 4 year old nephew is the same way. He is a very emotive child (much like Liam) and that he has similar outbursts. Luckily Liam averages one of these doozies once every few months but when they arrive...you just want to head to the nearest fallout shelter. I realize that Liam is a very emotional person (good and bad), much like me. When he is happy he is very, very happy and when he is sad he is very sad and when he is very, very mad about something...get out of the way.
After lunch he told Emily he would "shake off his fits during nap." Let us hope so...otherwise we might be looking for new childcare.
No comments:
Post a Comment