Supporting your child's mental health

Top Slip

A short trip Top Slip. The boy had many things to say during the drive :-
"I am really excited to be a dad when I grow up. You know what I will name my son? Shark!"
"I am really worried. What if I drive fast and crash?"
The wife - "Dont worry you have good genes"
"You mean if I wear jeans and drive, I won't crash?"
In a traffic jam - "Whatever happens, happens for a good reason"

Graduation Day

Graduation Day and the boy got a certificate for  97% attendance.

Another tantrum and I hope these end soon. I told the boy clearly in the morning, that I have to go out after lunch and he agreed to it too. Inspite of that, the moment I left he created a fuss about it and threw a huge tantrum.

On the bright side, finances for my next car is taken care of as the boy graciously offered -
"After some years, if you want money for buying a car, take it from my piggy bank"

He had a sleepover at Ah's place. It had mine when I started college! Children, these days...

Conversations

Conversation between the boy and B(Aa and Ah's mom).

B - "Why did you throw a tantrum today?"
The boy - Smiling sheepishly..."Did you hear me?"
B - "Of course that's why I got a headache"
B - "Why did you shout and cry so much?"
The boy - "Because of my mom and dad"
B - "What did they do?"
The boy - "They didn't stop me from crying"
B - "But why did you cry in the first place"
The boy - "Achan didn't allow me to come to your house"
B - "Why didn't he allow you?"
The boy - "Just like that"
The boy - "I have a bad headache..not because of Ah. Ah is not troubling. I have a headache because of my mom's shouting"

Attitude

One of the things I do not approve of is when people eat their food in front of TV.

Which is more important? Where is your respect for food? And mindless eating.

The boy at his age is like a sponge, soaking up everything - what we say, what we do.

So when I got into an argument with the wife for eating in front of the TV, the boy coolly said "Achan, ignore Amma". I was impressed with the boy's attitude of letting go.

A talk with him later in the day...

The boy - "Whom will I marry when I become big?"
I - "Why do you need to marry? "
The boy - "Then only I will have children."
I - "Why do you need to have children? Can you handle their crying? You cannot handle your own crying..."
The boy - "If he cries, I will shift the house without him"
I - "Good idea! We will do the same thing the next time you cry"
The boy - "Nooo...katti I won't be your friend!"