My Temper Tantrum

So, my nine-year-old had a melt down at the skating rink on Friday when she found out she had to come back the next day to practice her duet for the Christmas show. She was mad because she had already been there two days in a row and "I'm tired" and "Saturday is the only day I don't have to do anything!"

She cried and whined. I told her she didn't have a choice, and she threw back at me, "I thought we ALWAYS had a choice." With tears glistening on her eyelashes, she looked at me sideways, hoping to catch me in the "Ha, I got you there" kid moment. I tried to stay calm as all the way home she peppered me with "I'm just so tired" and "I already know it, why do I have to go?" (even though she doesn't know it at all). When we finally got home I sent her to soak in the tub, my all time fix for every problem in the world.

Wow! a temper tantrum over having to spend an hour ice skating on a Saturday morning? I wish that was my biggest problem. Right?

Well, the next day...

After taking her to ice skating (and watching her skate for almost two hours), I called to check on the other kids and my sick husband at home. I reminded my son to get online and catch up with a class he is taking.

Finally home, I walked in the house to boxes of Christmas decorations littering the floor and days of dishes covering the counter and sink. We only had one hour to spare before we had to be at our next activity of the day. I called my son to let him know when he needed to be home from his friend's house and found out he hadn't done the work I asked him to do.

Soon I found myself throwing a temper tantrum to rival the best two-year-old.

I yelled things like, "Didn't I tell you to get that done?" "Why didn't you just push the button?" "What do you mean you didn't think of that?" "What would you do without me?" "You can't even do one little thing without me sitting next to you."

But that wasn't the worst of it.

I began stomping around the house and slamming anything that could bang. The door, the dishes, the silverware, the boxes of decorations. All the kids hid upstairs just waiting for the storm to pass.

What was my temper tantrum really about?

Could it be the seven, yup, seven different concerts our family is involved with this Christmas season; the plates of cookies that seem to be required at every turn; the endless rehearsals; the chorus of "why we are the only house on the block without lights?; the Christmas cards that haven't even been considered yet; the presents that should be in the mail, but haven't been purchased?

Ok, I'm tired,

and When do I get a day that I don't have to do anything?

I woke up this morning chanting, Peace on Earth, Good will to Men.