The last few days have been pretty tough. Jeremy is having a hard time getting used to me and has decided to test my authority. Exactly what I was afraid would happen. He is not as well-behaved as I had hoped.

He mostly won’t listen to me because, I think, his sister has to translate most of what I say to him. Of course he doesn’t want to do what his sister tells him, even if he knows that it’s coming from me. He and I get so frustrated not being able to communicate. I think he’s also a little jealous that Maeva and I can actually understand each other. I hope to learn french really quickly.

Tuesday nearly destroyed me. I had to fight with him all day. It’s terribly embarrassing to be fussing with him at school when I don’t speak the common language. He wouldn’t even come to the car with me. After a lot of strife, I finally got him naked and ready for his shower at around 6pm. He wouldn’t get in. I fought with him for a half an hour before Maeva was ready for her shower. When I agreed to let her go first, he wasn’t going to have it. He blocked her way into the shower. I went to shut the bathroom door just to keep him in there at least and Maeva’s finger was in it. She was terrified, of course. I managed to calm her down. Luckily, the damage was minimal. Jeremy ran around like a maniac afterward and I was too busy tending to Maeva to even try to get him under control.

He finally got in the shower when the front door opened (he knew it was his dad). When I went to wash his hair, he screamed bloody murder and I just lost it. I was completely in tears and couldn’t do anything to help myself. But only for a few seconds and nobody saw me. :)

Whatever bug that my immune system was attempting to fight off, was able to completely invade at that point. I have a sore throat now.

Eric and Marie were so extra supportive that night. I’m glad they could just tell that my day was tough without me having to say much. They weren’t mad at all about Maeva’s finger.

Yesterday morning was still pretty bad. Jeremy wouldn’t do anything to get ready. I only have 40 minutes to get them fed, dressed, and ready to go before school. I had to carry him to his room when he wouldn’t obey me to isolate him for a few minutes. Just until he was ready to do what I wanted him to do. With his mom’s help, I got him to school on time. After school was just as bad.

I took him to his Judo class. I watched his instructor with so much envy. He didn’t even have to raise his voice to get Jeremy to do as he said. As I was trying to figure out what it is that this man possesses, I kept repeating to myself what Marie had told me Tuesday night (”He has to listen to you, he has no other option”). I realized that it’s my fear of his rebellion that he senses. That’s what he’s testing.

After Judo, he wouldn’t get dressed. He ran around like a maniac again. Then the magic happened. I grabbed him without yelling or being angry and just started to dress him myself. I held him just tight enough so he was not able to get away. Suddenly, he realized that I meant business and he asked if he could do it himself. He even said, “Thank you, Charity” when I let him.

After that, the devil was gone. He was a perfect angel for the rest of the day. He was even affectionate.

I am certainly not going to count on perfect behaviour from now on, but at least I have a better sense of how to control it. Thank goodness. Another day of that and you would have to come visit me in a french nuthouse.