I love my son. I love my son. I love my son.

Really, I do.

Even when his ODD comes out in a temper tantrum at the bus stop as the bus is pulling up, because I wouldn't let him go home to collect the Legos he wanted to take to school (which he shouldn't be taking to school anyway).

(I love my son. I love my son. I love my son.)

He wanted to stay home with me today, because he knows it's my day off school. Explaining how busy I am didn't touch him. Explaining the reality of how his day would go should he stay home didn't faze him. The explanation of how school is necessary for all sorts of reasons was interrupted as he drifted off into rude noise play.

(I love my son. I love my son. I love my son.)

A lot of this is probably due to the fight we had last night (which involved me having to physically restrain him) over his inability to accept the words "no" and "stop". (Which scares me no end, btw.) That and having his dad out of town.

Knowing the reasons doesn't make it easier to deal with.

I phoned the school with a warning about his mood, so hopefully his teacher can finagle him out of it. Hopefully the two boys who've been bullying him will be kept at bay. Hopefully he'll manage some semblance of self-control as the day wears on.

I do love my son. But that U2 song, "With or Without You" is sounding more and more like a child-rearing song to me rather than about a romantic relationship. (Okay, maybe not, but still.)

*deep breath*

At this point, I'm just hoping I don't get a call from the school to come collect him because he's been suspended. Which I hope is me being grossly unfair to him.

Better

- Got my essay (and damned bibliography) done. Should probably look it over again tonight, but it's probably as good as it's going to get.

- Didn't get a phone call from Page's school. When I picked him up early from after-school, he was in a good mood. As we drove to my school, he said he'd had a good day. (!!!) Yay.

- Didn't mess up terribly at induction ceremony. Didn't even squeak my two lines, though my voice did shake. Ah well. Page was terribly good, although he did throw in an audible yawn at one point. ;-]

- Heard from Geoff; he's doing well.

- Fourth peony is alive. Now to see if I planted a fifth one...

- I think I'll have some time this weekend. Time that isn't pressing in on me, ya know? Yeah, I'll have homework to do (like reading the last accounting chapter, and another couple of biology chapters) and chores and stuff, but I think I will be able to get out in the garden and plant my mini-dafs. I'll be able to go on a bike ride with Page. I'll be able to relax a bit. Not much, but a little. And I think both Page and I really need that. (Geoff does, too, but he won't be home till Sunday night.)

So, yeah. Another bad start led to an alright kind of day. Yay.