The two sides of William

Yesterday I took the kids for a late bike ride. We got to the school playground around 5 pm. We stopped and picked up Natalie’s friend on the way and a few other girls from her grade were already there. This was great for Natalie, not so great for William.

He tried playing and they didn’t want him to, so then he felt left out. A William who is feeling left out is not a good William to have around. He tortured the girls any chance he got.

As it got later a few of the girls left and the rest asked to go to the other side of the schools playground so I said yes. We all moved over and the issues between William and the girls got worse. At one point I didn’t like the way he was acting so I made him come sit near me. He did, but protested the whole way and this is what he said.

W: I didn’t do it; they are being mean to me!
M: I know they are but you are teasing them too.
W: They are the stupidest girls ever! In the WHOLE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! The stupidest!

Then he got in trouble for saying that. The poor kid, but it was so funny because he was so serious and upset all at the same time.

Then today we went to church. Last week William was noisy, bouncy, off the wall, and got into so much trouble during mass that he had to ride home in my car. He would not stand when he was supposed to, he would not sit when he was supposed to, he was “TIRED” he would NOT say any of the prayers and he didn’t even attempt the “Our Father” which I know he knows! So he was punished and not allowed in Grammy & Grampy’s car with Natalie.
In my car he had to say the Our Father.

First time he did it in this tiny whinny voice. I made him stop and start again.

Next time he did it in a gruff mad voice, I made him stop and say it again.

Third time he started saying it really, really fast, I made him stop and say it again (do you see a pattern).

4th time he did it correctly. This must have really stuck in his head all week.

So this week I warned him before we got into church.
M: You better behave in church!
W: But I don’t like church.
M: Say that again and we are going EVERY day, not just on Sunday!
W: OK
M: No noises, you must sit and stand when you are supposed to, and I better hear the “Our Father”!
W: Yes Mom.

We get into church and he was really good through the first part of mass. He “read” the book with my dad (my dad would point to the words that were being read and William would try to follow). Stood up and sat down when he was supposed to and kept really quiet. I was impressed. Then came time for the Our Father, I was really wondering what he was going to do.

He stood up with everyone, took my hand and my dads hand and said the Our Father in a nice voice that I could hear but wasn’t too loud. We finished the prayer and he turned to me and said, in a nice quiet church voice

W: Can I go in Grammy and Grampys car?
M: Yes you can, you did a really nice job
W: Is church done yet?
M: Almost just a little while left
W: YEA! (in a nice quiet church voice so ONLY I could hear him)

Then the bouncing started, I bent over to him and said
M: I can still have you come in my car.

He stopped and behaved the rest of mass.

Maybe there is hope!

Coming soon: Natalie’s cheer leading performance.