Friday 27 January 2012

A confession ... my throat is sore from screaming at my son.

This is a confession. It has been a lifetime since I confessed to anyone. This morning as I drove to work my throat was practically bleeding from screaming at my eldest son. Bleeding...

I heard him, the other day, on the phone planning a sickie and when he started to tell me he felt ill last night I girded my loins for trouble. In our house you don't get a day off school or work unless you are vomiting or bleeding all over the carpet and it takes a mastermind crossed with the acting ability of Robert Downey Junior to get past me.

So, the huffing and puffing last night and the early night didn't cut it. Especially as he was still listening to the football on the radio until 10pm. When I went in to get him up this morning he told me he felt sick and couldn't possibly go to school ...

I'm afraid I gave him short shrift. It is the classic tale of the boy who cried wolf ... he has attempted to pull the wool over my eyes (unsuccessfully) so many times that I have no patience. He forgets that I have known him for 14 years and have nursed him through various bouts of genuine illness, from chicken pox to tummy bugs. I have mopped his brow and his vomit at all times of day and night. I have sat up with him stroking his hair until he slept.

So I am the wrong person to try to trick when it comes to illness. It does you no favours to borrow the thermometer and hold it under the cold tap and then come downstairs complaining of a temperature. As I said to him "You look remarkably well for a boy in the last stages of hypothermia ..."

This morning I am afraid that his refusal to go to school was greeted with less than usual humour from me. As his protestations went from light groaning to full scale "You are EVIL!!!!" I could take no more. I am a good mum. I am patient, understanding and prone to helping with homework, but today he was right ... I was evil.

I screamed at him. The dam of my emotions burst and I turned into a screaming, shrieking lunatic. I told him that if he hadn't left for school before I left for work I would phone the school and tell them he was refusing to go. I told him the x-box was gone until the end of February and as my heart beat in my chest like a battering hammer my final words before I swept from the room were "If I die of a heart attack right here on your carpet, it will be your fault!!!!!"

Oh, good grief ...

And this from a mother who had vowed never to tell her children even to "Shut up".

He dressed and left for school on time.




p.s. We have talked calmly since this. We have apologised to each other and I have enquired what problems he has at school - none. I have informed him that honesty is the best policy and we have both told each other we love each other. My throat is still sore .... I may have to have a couple of days off work ...


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is hilarious although I do feel sympahtetic to your cause. It wasn't that long ago it was me trying to pull the wool over my mums eyes! I think honesty is the best policy! Nice post-makes me feel better for screaming at my son when he sprays food all over the walls! haha x
www.atwentysomethingmum.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Your poor boy, lol. I've shouted at full volume a few times; it usually goes in one and out the other.

For me, it's cheek and back-chat that I shout at but it gets me nowhere. My daughter can be the angel from heaven, and other days the female version of Kevin & Perry!

CJ x

lizzie said...

This is so funny! Reassuring to know I'm not the only one who shouts literally at the top of my voice at my two girls. My eldest is only 7, but is just like 'Kevin' sometimes, so that is her nickname when she is being cocky and rude to Mummy. Glad you two made up. Love your blog by the way! :o)

FarmWife said...

Most of this week BabyGirl & I have been at each other's throats. Currently she is flat-out refusing to do her math homework. I'm ready to snatch her bald. It's not a fun feeling.

Yesterday began with me weeping on the couch because the two of us couldn't quit screaming at each other. Husband stepped in & got the FarmHands ready & off to school.

You are not alone. (Funny-my word verification for this post is "straps." Making me think I'd like to take a strap to my oldest sometimes.)

Pauline said...

Funny! It takes reading a post like this to remind me of those usually long forgotten times. Now it's my daughter's turn and she sometimes wails, "Oh Mum, I've turned into you!" What goes round, comes round! :)

Unknown said...

I did laugh at this post but then I felt bad laughing as I know teenagers! Hope your throat recovers soon, I hate shouting so I don't do it, remind me of this in 12 years when my girl is trying to leave the house half dressed in stilettos!

Caz said...

They can push you to the ultimate limits, can't they? Glad you kissed and made up. Doubt he'll try that one again! xx

Anonymous said...

I have had this exact scene for the last three Mondays, I was calm until today and let rip like a banshee. I hate Mondays.

Unknown said...

I love your post.
I have also had a sore throat the last few days from shouting at my son. The shouting doesn't seem to be working though so I'm now trying ignoring him! Probably won't work but at least my throat gets a rest. x