Is it wrong to want to tie your child to the bed? or, Mommy had a bad day!

So, yesterday was one of those parenting days that are not to be enjoyed, just suffered through and survived.

Max threw so many temper tantrums I thought I must be on Punked or Pranked or some other practical joke TV show.

I think all I did was yell aaaalllll daaaaayyy looooong. If I wasn't yelling at Max to stop pulling my hair or banging his head against the wall when he didn't get his way, then I was yelling at our bull terrier, Meeko, to get out of my way and stop tormenting the rest of us. I don't like yelling. It takes too much energy.

Max threw one tantrum after another, starting with the biggest one when I made him get out of the bathtub yesterday morning because he refused to sit down. He was only taking a bath in the first place because he jumped in the tub and poured out his shampoo all over his legs and shorts before I knew what he was doing. So, I gave him a bath and no matter how much I talked sweetly, then threatened, then yelled, he would not sit down. He has a scar on his chin from falling in the tub a few weeks ago when he refused to sit down. Did he learn from that? Ummm, no.

I told him that if he didn't sit down, he would have to get out (he looooves baths, so that would be a punishment). When he didn't, I made him get out. And boy, that was a tantrum that lasted 10 to 15 to 20 minutes. I lost track of time because my brain was vibrating from all the screaming.

After that, he was just generally unpleasant and mad at me. We had spirited battles of the wills all morning until nap time. And after nap time, it started again.

He climbed on the baby's crib because he was trying to swing from the top of it (it has a canopy), he purposely knocked over stacks of paperwork, the remote basket, a box of colored pencils, he emptied the drawers in the den, he threw his food, he drew on the dining room table with a crayon, he drew on the coffee table with a pencil, he unraveled the toilet paper, he threw things in the dogs' water dish, he threw a tantrum in Toys R Us when it was time to leave. And the child won't even be two until next month!!

We've had four rainy days in a row and I think he has cabin fever, as do I. We are both Leos and the ruling planet of Leos is the sun. And we haven't had any sunshine for four days!! It is getting to both of us. So far, today has been touch-and-go. I've let him win a few battles in order to keep the peace this morning. My husband works both of his jobs today, so I will be alone with our little monkey until bedtime. Please pray for us both. One of us might be getting tied to the bed. And I wouldn't be surprised if it was me.