My Grumpy Son

If my son were one of the seven dwarfs, he'd be Grumpy. He wasn't always this way. As a baby, he was Sleepy. As a toddler, Bashful. Just recently, he was Happy. But now he's Grumpy and it's driving me crazy!

His new favorite stance is legs spread with his arms folded across his chest and his lips in a Mick Jagger pout. He won't eat his dinner. He won't wash his hands with soap. He won't get dressed in the morning without a tantrum. It's exhausting and troubling and surprising, given that, up until these past few weeks, my son had always been so well-behaved. Sure we've had difficulties (incessant nose-picking, squeezing his little brother's face), but those things seem so benign now. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm finding my son utterly annoying!

I've read a lot of articles and gotten a lot of advice about this. I get that his behavior is normal. I know he's just testing his limits. I realize I have to pick my battles. I'm sure that this is just a phase. But oh how I wish someone would take this miniature ogre off my hands and bring my sweet little boy back, even just for one day. There are moments when he's downright sullen! Isn't sullen reserved for teenagers? I keep wondering if he's going to break out a Cure CD and start writing bad poetry.

As much as I hear people say "this will pass," I have to ask, "When?!" This isn't a fun existence for any of us. Not me. Not my husband. Not my son. When will this end?