3 Year Olds! Dr. Jekyl or Mr Hyde?

Well, I find myself asking this question more and more lately as our son Sean is nearing his third birthday. He has always been a very well behaved and pleasant child. Lately however, things have taken a turn down a road I would prefer not be on.

The other night when we went out to dinner, wow!!! This kid was on fire. He would not sit down, he spilled his food on the floor and would not listen whatsoever. I took him out to the car and calmed him down, but as soon as we got back in the restaurant, he started up again.

You should have seen the looks we were getting. Not that I care but if looks could kill, my son would of been a gonner. Now what made this worse is that my daughter Amy, who is now 1 year old, was confused and then started crying and the night just spiraled from there.

It was quite comical to watch the people dining and the wait staff try to get us to leave without actually asking us. I mean they gave us horrible service and when we were served our food it was cold. I mentioned it to them and they started fighting with my wife, Andrea over what was cold and what was eaten anyway.

The highlight came when I was taking Sean out to the car for the third and final time, the manager or owner started running after me because he thought that I was doing a “dine and dash.” (Leaving without paying.) This was even funnier considering Andrea was standing in the front of the restaurant with Amy in one arm and her wine and the credit card in the other. WOW!!

I can say the ride home was also “wonderful.” It was filled with tears, crying and shouting… oh my. When we got home, everything seemed to change. Amy went to bed and Sean totally mellowed out. He wanted to go back to the “restaurant upstairs and listen this time.” He went to bed finally, and mom and dad had another adult beverage and were just happy to make it through another day!

I guess we have about 18-20 years to go. Although I couldn’t be happier with my family, it sure tests your limits sometimes. In looking back to the incident, I kinda get a chucke at how such a small little dude can rattle my feathers so much.

I wouldn’t trade it for the world!!