Life with an explosive child

I thought it would be nice to start off this retooled blog with a WIN…

So, Bouncy Boy and Bookworm Girl both do Suzuki violin, which means (among other things) that twice a month they have group lessons. They are in different groups that go back to back, which means each must sit through the other’s lesson. I have a special Star Wars coloring book and markers that ONLY come out at group lessons. So far it has worked fantastically; he has had no problem sitting quietly and coloring for the duration.

Last week we had group lessons, and Bouncy Boy brought along his favorite Star Wars Lego people. He didn’t actually play with them, but he kept them on the table while he was coloring. Another kid’s dad came up to our table, sat down, and had a brief whispered conversation with me. At the same time, the dad picked up a couple of the Lego people and idly handled them while we chatted. The conversation ended, he set down the Lego guys, and returned to his daughter at the next table over. At that point Bouncy Boy got down from his chair, came over to me, and whispered angrily in my ear, “Mom, that man should NOT have picked up my Legos without asking!”

Can I just say? This boy has no fear of strangers. He does not save his explosions for at home. I remember when he was two years old he blew a very rude raspberry in a well-meaning stranger’s face just because she had the temerity to wave and smile at him. In this situation, he clearly made a deliberate choice to rein himself in and not say anything to this dad. I could see that it took a heroic amount of effort for him to keep his temper.

We have talked about this incident several times, since. Strangely, Bouncy Boy does not agree with me that he made a good decision. He apparently regrets not having said anything to the dad. I, however, am thrilled.