It’s 7:42 and the kids are ready for school. Watching a few minutes of cartoons with coats and shoes on.
C’mon girls time to go, we don’t want to be late I say as I shuffle them towards the door.
The pressure of getting them out the door and to their class by 8:00am is paramount.
I live just under a mile from the school. No matter what happens we will not make it to school on time.
It’s 7:44, the TV turns off and the meltdowns begin.
It’s not fair. I NEVER get to finish the show. No matter what nice rational things I say, I lose. The whining escalates. EeerrrRRR!! That dreaded whine scream escalates. No matter what ungrateful lecture I give the whining is unrelenting.
Great news, we’ve gotten in the car. Humph. Now the fighting with her sister begins. See sister is happy and won’t stop singing.
STOP, I SAID STOP. You’re annoying, you never stop singing. I’m negotiating to speak to her with kindness and explaining we cannot control others. What I’d like to do is smack her upside the head and tell her she’s being a little asshole. I manage to stay calm.
We park. She won’t be quiet so I’m not getting out of the car.
That’s it. That is the breaking point, and there is always a breaking point. Every. GD. Day.
Alright, we’ll all stand in the cold while you throw your fit. When you’re done I’m going to march you into class to explain why you’re late today. I want you to tell your teacher you’re late because you refused to get out of the car because you find your sister’s singing annoying. I bet your teacher is gonna love it.
Some dad is judgingly looking at me.
I give a morning wave and make eye contact. He turns away and scurries off. Better mind your own.
You see I’m not afraid to be the stern parent. My kid is acting like a big stinking butthole. It’s not cute at 8 and it will be really ugly at 18. I’m having none of it. If you think this behavior is acceptable then you better proudly tell others.
Another scream whine that she won’t do it, she won’t tell her teacher that her tantrum made her late. It’s too embarrassing and she now begrudgingly stomps off towards the school door.
I survived morning drop-off.
After doing mom stuff all day, I have a pounding headache. I finally sit down, it’s 2:20pm. I chug a coffee and get ready for 3pm pickup. I am picking up 1 kid.
She’s a nightmare at every pickup. This is the kid that never eats enough and is completely irrational always. This is not morning tantrum kid.
Hi honey I say as she climbs in the car. It’s 30 degrees out. No coat, No hat. No gloves. No leggings under her dress anymore. Her teacher places a bag of wet items in the car. She was playing in a puddle at recess and got soaking wet. Her gloves are missing she says, and the tantrum begins.
I won’t leave school without my gloves! She persists, I close the door and she refuses to buckle.
I warn I don’t have time for this. I have to double back to get her sister in 15 minutes. Pick up the dog as I drop her off and make it to the vet 10 minutes after kid 2.
Arms crossed and pursed lips. I warn I will leave with her having her fit on the floor. One, two, three and off we go.
I’m only halfway thru the day. I’m exhausted and feel garbagey.
Maybe the day would feel less painful if I dug my eye out with a spoon?
moxiemommy 
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