Declare Peace

These pictures are from last Friday, when Henry chose his excellent outfit, including accessories (the sun visor he made last summer, and the butterfly he had made the previous day in school).  We were looking at slugs on the rain-dampened porch while waiting for the neighbor boys to come out for the ride to school.

Unfortunately, that was the last day that he was our sweet, inquisitive boy.  Overnight he was replaced by a pod-person Henry-replica who spits, throws tantrums, and basically defies all rules of civil behavior.  Saturday evening I realized I was yelling and threatening and getting pulled into a bad spiral, so Sunday I went back to the time-out, which we hadn't had to use in a long time.  I can't even count how many I gave on Sunday, but I know there were three time-outs before breakfast this morning!  

It's all very baffling and exhausting.  What the heck?  He went to a birthday party on Sunday afternoon, and I thought he would be glad to tear around and play with his friends, after being so difficult all morning.  But no, what did he do?  He clung to my legs and sat on my lap for over an hour.  Very unlike him.  

Tonight I talked with him at bedtime, after all was calm and he was settled in for the night (I will not recount the various frustrations of getting him to that point!).  I pointed out that we had had a rough couple of days, and he agreed.  I asked him why, and he didn't know.  I suggested that we try to have a good day tomorrow, with no time-outs, with good behavior and pleasantness and listening to mom and dad.  "Let's have a good day tomorrow, okay?"  And he answered: "We declare peace!"