This kid has been driving me crazy for months. He's so tender and wonderful sometimes; and other times he's a demon. Completely unpredictable. Could be the puberty hormones. (By the way, he's been wearing these sports glasses all summer because I keep forgetting to take his other glasses in to be repaired. I'm Mother of the Year obviously.)
For weeks, Tyler has had an intense germ phobia. He's become super OCD about washing his hands and touching anything. Going anywhere with him is becoming a problem. He won't open doors with his hands. If we go to the mall, he uses his feet to open the door. It's crazy! And he washes his hands so much that they're all dried up and cracking. I'm trying to be patient and hoping it will pass or improve soon. At the end of the school year, the school had a health unit all about HIV and AIDS and he's been very concerned about it. Concerned that I might give it to Mia while nursing or concerned that he might get it from Noah if he drank out of his cup....crazy questions all the time. It took forever for him to understand that Noah cannot give him HIV because HE DOES NOT HAVE IT! Ugh. I must have said that to him 27 times. Then, he watched a few minutes of Shark Week and afterward asked if sharks can get HIV. What?! I had no idea what to say to that.
Overall, he's a good little guy. He's not violent, into drugs, failing school, or anything that serious. Mostly, I'm frustrated with his penchant for dishonesty about the most insignificant things and his bullying nature toward the younger siblings. (Except Mia. He adores Mia). I know that big brothers are bullies by nature. I'm trying to be more understanding - its hard. A couple weeks ago we were driving in the car and the boys were playing the "quiet game". Noah was winning. So, Tyler tried to kiss him on the mouth to get him to talk! Devious.
He sure is cute, though.
