More Meltdowns

Today was going really well. Ethan was well behaved and looking forward to his surprise this evening(Grandma and Grandpa coming for a visit). As it got closer and closer for them to come he got more excited. We could see him getting into the mode and let him know he needed to slow down because we were going to go out to dinner. We got home and Ethan wanted to wait outside for the surprise, we reminded him that he cannot go out there alone as it is not safe, they would be here any minute, but he had to wait inside. He then saw the Santa letter that he wanted to mail and yelled at us for not mailing it. John said, "I was waiting for you because I thought you wanted to mail it and we also needed to put a stamp on it." Ethan then started to yell at John and call names even though John was getting a stamp and go mail the letter with him. Ethan stopped yelling, grabbed his lego box, ran into his room and got on his top bunk. Then Grandma and Grandpa came in Ethan was yelling at John and Grandpa asked what was going on. John told him he wasn't in a good mood.

We all went about our business while Ethan was in his room. Then Ethan started to yell for John. I told Ethan John was on the phone. He stopped yelling. When John got off the phone he went to see what Ethan wanted. Ethan asked John to help him with his lego's and John said that Grandma and Grandpa are here so we can't do this right now, lets put this away. That sent Ethan into a major meltdown, he started jumping on top of John anand trying to hit him. John called for me and I came in. Ethan started yelling and name calling and hitting things. John yelled at him top stop and he did not. We both closed the door and left the room so he could cool down. A few minutes later he started to hit the door so I got up to go in there, but my dad said let me try. I said ok and he went in there. They had words and he told him he needed to straigten up. Ethan called him and asshole and to get out of his room and he said no your being the asshole and then left the room. I went in a few minutes later and he was still yelling and now crying too. He told me to get out, which I did to let him cool down a little. When it seemed quiet I went in there and he started to yell again. I spoke calmly to him and said lets try and finish your legos. He came over and I asked him to sit in my lap and told him that he can't behave like that. He told me he knew and he hugged me. We finished making his lego car and all was well. I asked him to put his shoes and socks on so we could go to dinner, John was now in the room with our daughter and told Ethan not to get clean socks to just put the ones he was wearing on. Ethan didn't like that and started calling John names, John told him to go sit in time out and Ethan said no your an asshold. John picked him up and put him in time out and told him that would be another minute. This dragged on and I told everyone to go to dinner and I would stay here. They left and Ethan ran out the door. John ran after him and handed him off to me and left. I got him in the house and Ethan kept yelling I wanna go to dinner. I told him he could not go to dinner because of his behavior. He was trying to leave and kicking and screaming. I eventually had to hold him down as he was hitting walls, throwing things at me and trying to leave the house. He tried to bit me while I was holding him down so I stuck his own hand in his mouth, he was so angry he bit his own hand and then got angrier when he realized he bit himself. He purposely bit himself 3 more times. He still would not calm down. This had been going on from start to finish for exactly 2 hours, his room was a mess and I had to think of a new direction. I left his room to think for a minute and then came back. I said to him, "I am starting the timer and this room better be clean in the next 10 minutes or I will throw away whatever is left, actually no I will give it away to someone else." He immediately sprung into action. I helped with a few things and then left to get his dinner ready. He was done in 6 minutes. I told him he has 4 minutes left can you put your pajamas on? He told me no and I said, you have 4 minutes left to put your pajamas on and clean up your shoes and I left the room. I looked back and again he had sprung into action. When he was done he sat at the table and began to eat. He said, "When I am done I am going to give you a piece of candy." I told him thank you, but I don't want any candy. Well this made him mad again and he stormed out. I said to him if his dinner isn't done in the next 10 minutes then he will have nothing else to eat. He ran back in and sat at the table and finished his whole meal. When everyone got back from dinner I told him to apologize, which he did. Then Grandma and Grandpa said they were leaving, they were suppose to spend the night, but left because of his behavior. They live about 8 hours away so it's a treat for them to be here. When they left, I went into my room and closed the door cause I was upset. When John came in to check on me and ask what was wrong I said they left cause of his behavior. Apparently Ethan heard this and got sad. John had him go brush his teeth and get ready for bed. When Ethan was done he gave me one of his bears and sat with me. I waited a few minutes and asked him what he should be doing. He said he didn't know and I told him to finish getting ready for bed. He did and then came back to me. He asked if I wanted the bear and I said no thank you. He said do you want a hug? I said sure and he gave me one. Then John came back in and talked to him about his behavior, he stood there, not sure if he was listening and then John told him to say good night and go to bed he did and fell asleep within minutes.

Now all is quiet in the house. I did video tape some of this, but I told Ethan that I would not post it online. I know he is only 6 but until he gives me permission I don't feel it is right to post the video. He is pretty good about making the right decision so one day it might get posted!

"Find a moment in laughter every day!" By: Me :)