Today was my first day at my new preschool. Everything started out fine. I woke up, ate breakfast, got dressed and go ready without any issues. But then a few minutes before I started to feel anxious and started to say, “I’m not going to school.” Daddy took me aside and talked to me. He told me it was okay to be worried and okay to be a little scared. But he knew I was a brave strong boy who could do anything. He told me that new things can be scary at first but can end up being something we really enjoy. He reminded me that my first few days at Akarinoko nursery school were hard and that I cried almost every day. I was not even one, so I don’t remember that, but the point was that I ended up loving my time there. After expressing my feelings to Daddy and talking it out with him, I felt a little better and a little braver. I made it to school with a smile on my face.
There were some new things to get used to, like changing from my outdoor shoes to indoor shoes. (At my previous school I would just take off my shoes and socks and spend the day barefoot indoors.) My cubby hole was in my own classroom instead of at the entrance, so we had to go upstairs and put my stuff and bag away. I have to learn where everything goes. Then we gather in one of the classrooms while waiting for everyone to arrive at school.
Everything went smoothly and I gave Mommy and Daddy a goodbye hug and joined the other students. I had a slightly nervous smile on my face, but there were no tears.
I spent the morning at school and it went better than I expected. There was a moment where I was feeling lonely and started crying and asking for Mommy. But my teachers were there to comfort me and I ended up being okay.
Obachan came to pick me up and took me home and we had a fun rest of the day.
Mommy came home and we had dinner and I played a bit. So everything was going well.
Mommy and I were watching TV on the couch when Daddy came home. He had a long day and was still not fully recovered from the stomach bug that he had got from me. He wanted to watch TV with us while eating dinner so he sat in my chair at the dining table. I didn’t like that. I turned very bossy and selfish and would not let him sit in my chair. So Daddy moved my chair out of the way and sat in his chair at an angle where he could watch TV with us. I got more mad. Then I went into full out-of-control tantrum.
I wouldn’t listen to anything he or Mommy said. I wouldn’t do a timeout, I wouldn’t listen, and I would calm down. I was upset about one thing so I became upset about everything. Mommy and Daddy tried talking to me and tried to help me calm down, but I did not budge. I was asked if I wanted to talk, some space, or a hug and I responded with mean comments and crying.
Soon it was time for my bath and I refused and kept crying, yelling, being selfish and being mean. In the end Daddy literally dragged me to the bath. I wouldn’t take off my clothes and when Daddy tried to help me take it off I would pull it back on. It was late, Daddy was tired and still sick, and still hadn’t eaten dinner. So he was at the end of his rope. He just put me in the tub and bathed me with my clothes on. I was shocked but couldn’t do much about it. Eventually he got my clothes off and was able to bathe me, but I did not make it easy.
When we were done I refused to get out of the tub so once again Daddy had to physically remove me from the tub. But now I wouldn’t put my pajamas on. I was stuck in my tantrum and stubborn mode. I was mean. I said mean things. I told Daddy to go to work. I even hit him. I wouldn’t take a timeout so my toys were put on timeout. I wouldn’t listen and I was being violent so Daddy took me to the bedroom. I was still crying, yelling, and being mean, when Daddy started taking notes on his phone, explaining the situation. He wasn’t saying it to me, so that gave me a chance to thin about it and take an outside view. I realized how badly I was behaving and I calmed down immediately. I agreed to take a timeout and did so really well. I was back to my normal self.
I was able to get ready for bed and go to bed peacefully after apologizing and getting a lot of hugs from Mommy and Daddy. I’m not making excuses, but I think the pressure and anxiety of starting at a new school was a bit much for me to handle. Still, that is no reason to hit and be mean. I am a very good boy, but when I have my tantrums I sometimes just forget that. I know I will get better at regulating my temper and emotions, but it will just take time. Mommy and Daddy remind me that they will always be there to help me and they always love me no matter what. Despite what I might say when angry, I love them always too!