an afternoon in our home

12:45

Me: Ok Daniel, 15 minutes until your nap

Daniel: NO! NO! NO! I don't want to go to bed. (Screaming, hollering, throwing self in floor.)

12:50

Daniel: Two minutes til my nap, right mommy?

Me: Uh....right....

12:51

Daniel: ok, bedtime. Night mommy!

Me: Uh...ok!

12:52

I high-tail it to the shower.

1:10

Out of shower. Lots of thumping and nonsense talking going on in the room.

1:11-2:00

Thumping and talking continues. I wait it out. Sometimes he falls asleep......

2:01

Creeeeeeeeeeeeak. Door opens. Daniel emerges and announces, "Ok, I slept!"

No nap today, I guess.

3:00

Screaming from the bedroom. Patrick is up.

3:01-4:30

Playing, frequently interrupted by screaming and shouts of "MOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMY!!!!" This usually has to do with Daniel taking a toy from Patrick.

4:30

Me: Ok Daniel, time to pick up your toys and take them to the playroom

Daniel: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I CAN'T!!!!

Me: You got all of these toys out, you can put them back.

Daniel: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't have to!! I need DADDDDDY!!!!! Dissolves into tears and fits and falls asleep crying on the couch.

5:30

Daniel emerges, red, puffy eyes and all. I'm hungry.

Me: We'll eat when Daddy gets home.

Daniel: BUT I'M HUUUUUUUUUUUUUNGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More tears and hysterics.

6:05

White car pulls into the driveway (finally), bringing happy shouts of "daddy!" from our children

6:15

Dinner is served.

Daniel: Mmmm, I love kinis (zucchini). Mmm, and pasta too. Yuuummmmmmmmmmm.

6:16

Mike cuts up a portion and puts half on each child's plate

Daniel: Nooooooooooooooo, I don't want Patrick's food! It's yuck! I don't like kinis!!! No kinis!!!!

Mike: It's time to pray.

Daniel: Noooooooooooooo, I don't want to pray!!!!

Me: You can either stop crying and pray with us or you can go to your room.

Daniel is completely inconsolable. We take him to his bed and continue dinner.

6:20

I go to Daniel's room. Would you like to come back to the table?

Daniel: Yes (very VERY red puffy eyes now)

6:21

Daniel: Ooooooh, kinis!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE kinis!!!!

6:30

Me: ok Daniel, let's get these toys picked up.

Daniel: Screaming, crying tantrum like above.

Me: Fine, I'll just share my ice cream with Patrick then.

Daniel: Silence.

6:32

Daniel begins picking up toys, 2 hours after the original request was made. Tells himself, "I'm so proud of you, Daniel" as he cleans up.

6:40

Daniel: Where's my ice cream????

SIGH.