Parenting is SO hard :(

So today wasn't the best day, parenting-wise. The kids did great getting up this morning...especially considering that Monday's are always rough on all of us getting back into the swing of things. My day was super busy at work, I had 3 conference calls and it just flew by. I'm still knee-deep in dealing with Hurricane Ike related issues with our employees. I left work right at 5 and headed to daycare to pick the kids up from after-school care. The kids are downstairs in the "after-school" room, so they have to call for them when I get there. I waited probably 2 minutes for them to come up. I see Dylan first. Sydni comes meandering behind him pouting because he didn't wait on her....this happens every-day except you never know which one will not wait on the other *sigh*. That is LEAST of my problems as I will soon find out.

Dylan spots a plastic baseball bat and foam ball and immediately picks it up. The conversation goes like this:

Me: Dylan, please put the bat and ball down. You know we don't play with things like that inside.

Dylan: I will mom, just a minute.

At this point, he taps the ball with the bat.

Me: (more sternly) Dylan, put the bat and ball down NOW.

Dylan: doesn't verbally reply, but proceeds to hit the ball with the bat again. Granted it was NOT hard and it didn't hit anything, but that's beside the point.

Me: DYLAN! If you don't put the bat and ball back where you got it NOW, you will get a spanking!!

Dylan: Do you want me to hit you with this bat??

Me: EXCUSE ME?

At which point, I go over to him and wrestle the bat and ball away from him. I don't say anything to him because I'm just trying to get out of the place at this point.

Dylan: (after I put the bat and ball up and head to the door) I hate you. You are the meanest mommy ever.

Me: Tight-lipped, I say nothing except "Dylan, let's go NOW." In my mind, I'm wanting to beat him. BUT, I don't beat my children and really, what would that solve at this point anyway?!?

Dylan: He continues with his ranting that I'm the "meanest mommy ever" and I'm "so rude" and he "hates me".

Honestly, I wanted to curl up in a ball in the parking lot and cry :( I know this is just part of childhood and Dylan has always been much more challenging that Sydni is this aspect.

We get in the car and I proceed to tell him that he will not EVER talk to me like that again! EVER! I explain to him how hurtful it was and how sad it made me. I told him that when you get angry, there are other ways to express your anger than saying mean things that you do not mean. He's BAWLING at this point and I'm 95% sure that he's reacting this way because he's tired...NOT an excuse, but I know that's the reason. My little man is STILL struggling with no naps in Kindergarten and Monday's are rough on him as it is.

I told him that when we got home, he could have no TV time and that he had to sit in his room and think about his behavior.

We got home and he comes barreling in the door screaming and crying about how "mean his mommy is". Jeremy is already home and is like, "WHAT is going on here?!?!"

I proceed to give him the details. Jeremy goes in to talk to him and he comes out to apologize to me. I told him I Loved him and how BADLY he hurt my feelings when he said mean and ugly things to me.

I pray that the way I (we) handled it was the right way, but really, who knows the right way when it comes to parenting.

So, on top of a long day at work, I'm tired mentally and emotionally. Pray for me that I have the strength to handle this strong-willed child that God has blessed me with.

Until tomorrow....