This week is going to be weird for me because it’s my son’s Spring Break. He has no school all week, which means I’ll be doing my best to keep him entertained while also trying to fit the work I need to do into the gaps. I’ve gotten better at these weeks over the years, but they’re never as easy as I want them to be.
For example, the start of every week-long break begins with my son and I getting into some kind of fight. It happened yesterday, right on schedule.
I had expressed wanting to play a board game with him and my wife, and he’d initially kinda-agreed to it. When it came time to set up he flatly refused to play. I’d offered several incentives to get him to play but he kept repeating his refusal, with the same tone and wording, to each of my suggestions until I snapped at him. Which led to a meltdown only my wife has the ability and patience to de-escalate. I eventually apologized to him for snapping, and to her because she doesn’t like it when I lose my cool in any capacity.
But I’m not worried about the remainder of the week. The scheduled butting of heads occurred where it normally does, and the expectations for the next few days have been set. I’m sure I’m going to have to hold my ground with enforcing limited screen time when he asks for extra (like he always does), but I’m practiced at redirecting his energy away from video games.
And somewhere, between holding my ground on screen time and keeping his interest elsewhere, I will be searching for time to work on art and comics. Which, like arguing with my son over game time, is what I’ve come to expect from these week-long school breaks.