C is for Crying

So glad I took them to the "Fun" Park...

On Day 3 of the A -Z Challenge, C is for Crying.

There was a lot of crying.  Meltdowns.  Losing it for no apparent reason.   It's bad enough when meltdowns happen at home, but when out in public it is a nightmare.  So many times I just wanted to crawl in a hole.  If I was somewhere that I could grab the kids and just leave, I would.

I used to take David shopping with me when I was pregnant with Michael.  He was really good in the stroller.  Everyone used to compliment me on how quiet he was and how beautiful he was.  And he was a gorgeous baby if I do say so. (and handsome now!).  But when it was time to leave, all holy hell would break loose.  He would throw out his arms and legs, totally stiff, so I could not get him in the car seat.  I don't remember how I figured it out, but if I started the car first and put the Eminem song 'Without Me' on the radio, he would allow me to put him in the seat.

Michael was prone to melting down at the drop of a hat.  If I was out with both boys by myself and Michael melted down, David would become visibly upset  Michael would try and go in one direction, David in the other.  After a couple of episodes, it was just easier to stay home and go out running errands when my husband was home and could watch the kids.

I took them to the 'fun' park.  They cried.

We took them to the barber to get a hair cut.  Michael cried.

We were just playing in the backyard.  Michael sat down in the grass and cried.  I have no idea why.

Once Michael began attending pre-school, it would take my husband and me literally two hours to get both boys dressed, fed and out of the house.  When I dropped Michael off, he would scream bloody murder.  I could hear him screaming as I would walk down the hallway of the school to the front door.  I was sick to my stomach ever single morning.  I wanted to cry myself.  When I picked him up at the end of the day, he would have to push the elevator button on the way out of the school.  If I didn't let him push that button, he would cry for about 2 hours.

Part of the frustration for Michael was not being able to communicate.  He did not really speak when he started pre-school and did not speak clearly even through fourth grade.  His lack of being understood as well as disruptions to his routines would primarily cause these meltdowns although sometimes there seemed to be no trigger for a particular meltdown.

We still struggle to this day with outbursts from Michael.  He still remains a creature of habit and he will tend to have mini-meltdowns or outbursts when there is a change of routine or he gets upset with someone or something.  I suspect this will be an ongoing struggle for us.