Naughty, Naughty

Shortly after Kean was diagnosed with cancer, 

I had other parents tell me that when they were finally finished

with treatment, they have had to deal with a new issue.

That being, a spoiled, acting out, ornery child on their hands.

When you have a kiddo in pain and feeling awful for months,

if not years, it is hard not to spoil them and give in to their every request.

That being said-- and even being forewarned, I find myself being much 

more lenient with Kean than I would have been "if" he had never

been diagnosed.

Heck, let's be honest, we all spoil him and cut him

probably way too much slack because we know he constantly

feels lousy.

And now I'm starting to see some of the fall-out.

He got in "trouble" at his therapy school today.

There are only three kids in his class and evidently

they were taking turns doing a little bowling game.

Kean was sitting next to a little boy and first tried to

pull off his glasses.

Then, he tried pushing him off the bench.

Two of his therapists held Kean's hands to himself and had

him miss two turns bowling.

They said he seemed to feel remorse, understand his actions

and why he was being held still and not allowed to play.

Lately, he's been throwing little tantrums, demanding

bacon, ice cream, cycle rides...

Hard to know how much of it is just typical

toddler tantrums or a foreshadowing of problem behavior

to come.

On the bright side, he is now showing appropriate remorse when

he gets in trouble.

And he hates, hates, hates being put in time out.

I guess the future will let us know if we've gone to over board

in coddling him.

But trust me, it's so hard not to.