The Last 3 Days

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. I got a call from the Principal of the homeschooling supplementary program that the kids attend once a week. Apparently, E was throwing an all-out fit {which I could hear in the background} and after 25 minutes of trying, no one had been able to calm him down. I packed up the two younger boys and drove 40 minutes into town, only to find that he'd finally stopped and agreed to go back to class. 

I talked with both the Principal and his Kindergarten teacher. We've all known that he has difficulty moving from one task to the next. He gets very particular, and needs his projects to be perfect before he'll agree set them aside; but in the past he has only shown his displeasure when rushed by giving a scowl that could peel paint from siding. Everyone was shocked by this outburst, especially since in all other regards, he's bright and mild mannered and quite sweet.

I sheepishly had to explain that he's been easy to set off this weekend. On Sunday, he declared that he didn't want to go to church, and then I couldn't even get him to step inside the building. He threw such a kicking-and-screaming-fit that I took him home {J and the two little boys were there, sick with colds} and put him in time-out for the duration of services. Three hours. 

I wish I could say that we came to some succinct conclusions, but alas, parenting is not that easy. For now, I try to be sensitive to his perfectionist personality, cautious of his immense stubbornness, and sympathetic instead of embarrassed when he spirals out of control. 

On to the rest of the weekend:

Free flowers! I cut a branch from a nearby tree and hot-glued a few silk blossoms to it. They're not as pretty as tulips, but I like the touch of spring that they add to the table.

I baked four loaves of fresh, whole wheat bread. It's gratifying to see the children eat it up as quickly as they would empty, store bought white bread, and it makes me feel all domestic and old-fashioned.

I gave all of the kids haircuts. Baby R looks darling with his shorter 'do, though he looks more blonde and less redhead now. :(

And most importantly of all, I remembered something my mom once said about living off of your food storage: make something sweet to snack on each day, and no one will feel deprived while eating endless bowls of chili, rice and beans. 

We had red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, which felt completely decadent considering we're out of butter, chocolate, meat, and... well, a lot of things.  I'm so grateful for the promptings I had more than two years ago to build up our food storage!

And that {plus a workout that lifted my mood considerably} comprised my weekend of no spending! I think I've got my mojo back.