Someone help me calm down. I'm shaking over a close call.

[ScreamingMeemie]

We just got home from picking up my daughter from practice. My son wanted to play next door. I said,"no, not right now." So James decided to blow a five year old temper fit. I sent him to his room to calm down. As I was downstairs with the laundry I could still hear him wailing....and then a HUGE crash that shook the house. I ran upstairs certain I would find my little one smooshed under something. He ran around the corner crying,"I'm sorry Momma, I'm sorry..." and then into his room. I don't know how he did it (he must have been shaking the television stand) but the T.V. was facedown on the floor. I have never been so scared in my life. He's sobbing in his room right now, and I am sobbing downstairs. The safeties are going back on tomorrow. When I think of what might have happened.... :cry:

Thanks for listening, Laura

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. You should both take the time to calm down and then

you should explain to him that his throwing a temper tantrum could have killed him. If you DO put the safty back on, don't let him know you did. He just taught himself a lesson.

And thank goodness nothing worse happened but this was part of life's way of training your son to control his temper. Find out HOW he did it.

[redqueen]

4. You're so damned smart, NSMA

Is there an official fan club or something?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. LOL I don't think there is

but when my best friend had her first kid, she was a single parent so I was the default parent a few years back. ..her little daughter had a FIERCE temper and a wild independent streak...one day we were at the beach and she wouldn't listen to me at the shore so I let a wave teach her to listen to me...mommy responded back to me " But I don't want her to have 'water issues.' " I responded back to mommy," If she develops a healthy respect for the ocean, she' ll LIVE to have water issues or not."

Anyway...she's 14 and on the swim team now so obviously NSMA didn't damage her by letting a wave knock her down...and she DID listen to me for the rest of the day.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. The tears came after I hugged him. I think he has taught himself a

lesson as well. I hate the damned T.V. I am ever so thankful that he is peacefully sleeping now and am beginning to calm down a bit myself.

Thanks for your advice, :loveya: Laura

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. Good..he KNOWS he blew it

It's good that you could love him up afterwards..but he totally got it...besides..he was crying cause he thought he was in MORE trouble...little buggers tear at your heartstrings while ransacking the house :evilgrin:

[Lisa]

41. no kidding -- now, George W. Bush at that age ...

... he would have been blaming everybody in sight, I'm sure!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

42. Hehe "Mommy, I didn't do it....Billy Clinton's wee wee did"

[yellowdawgdem]

44. glad your son wasn't hurt

Just get rid of the damn thing, or get a really small one. Anyway, this is an accident prone time of the year, so ya never know when or what.

[Deja Q]

32. It's a good idea to put the safety back on, but do tell him...

I'm glad he wasn't hurt! Man, that must have been horrifying to experience...

But I'd say (for what little I know of parenting and I might very well be wrong) it's worth considering to tell him about the safety device being put back on. If he decides to start shaking up a storm, he might naively get used to the idea that it's okay to do so because the TV stopped falling over. (But tell him when you take it down again.) But, either way, I doubt he'd try that stunt ever again.

Is the safety device meant to stop children from knocking things over, or is it primarily to protect the TV?

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. It's to protect the child. At least that's what I've always used them

for. He's pretty subdued this morning. He hasn't climbed on anything yet. Thanks so much,

Laura

[redqueen]

2. I'm so glad he's ok!!!!!!

A big :hug: for you!

I hope you're holding him right now - I'm sure he got the beejeezus scared out of him!

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. I held him for a good long time. I think my heartrate is almost back

to normal. I never want to feel like that again.

Thanks, Laura

:hi:

[MissMillie]

3. Whoa! Close one!

Thank goodness he's ok.

I'll bet it scared him something awful. Go hug him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. He was pretty darned scared. I keep hearing,"I'm sorry Momma, I'm sorry

over and over again. He's sleeping here on the couch near the computer now.


Thanks again, :hug: Laura

[VelmaD]

5. Oh honey

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Your wee one is fine...just scared. Everything will be ok. My suggestion, go pick him up and y'all cry together. He probably is scared to death and needs you. Needs to know that you love him and are glad he's ok even if he was mad at you before.

on edit: Once you're both calm I totally agree with NSMA.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Oh man. It was awful. I just kissed his little head over and over again.

And told him why I was so scared. He's pretty wiped out now.

Thanks Velma,for the hugs, I really need them.
:hug:
Laura

[roguevalley]

6. Hug each other honey and talk to him. This is a good moment to make

sure he understands how you protect him. HUGS!!!!!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Oh thanks so much rogue. I don't want to let him out of my sight.

How thankful I am that he is okay.

Thanks,
:hug:

Laura

[July]

56. Don't be too hard on yourself.

I'm sure you're trying to keep him safe, but, unfortunately, we can never keep them 100% safe from everything. The good thing is that he's okay.

In my own kid-raising experience, I've been considered the over-protective worrywart by my siblings, yet I couldn't protect my two boys from every last thing. And, despite my best efforts, they usually had their few accidents when I was close by. It's a frustrating feeling for a mom.

[candy]

7. Happened to my son in 1965

He was two and leaned against the massive,picture tube TV that was in a large mahogony cabinet, and pushed the whole thing over.We still talk about it.

Lots of close calls when rearing kids,but most things turn out okay.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Wow! That has to be scary. I am sure this is one that will go down

in the books. :hi:

[lovedems]

8. We have that upstairs problem too.

We have an old house so when the kids are running upstairs, it sounds like the ceiling fans in our downstairs are going to fall off!

I know how freaked you are right now! If your 5 year old is anything like any of my 4 boys, there will be many frantic runs up the stairs. Argh, boys do not take the time to consider the consequences of their actions!

I don't mean at all to make light of your fear, I absolutely know how real it is. I am glad to hear that he is fine and the fact that he is shaken is good indicator he won't do that again.

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. You are so right. And I am hoping he learned a lesson here.

I know live in fear of laundry doing.

Thanks so much!

:hug: Laura

[TXlib]

9. I am assuming he broke the TV?

Getting the crap scared out of him, and subsequently not being able to watch any TV because he broke it, should send the message that his actions were wrong.

Don't be in a hurry to fix the TV!

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Would you believe it's still workin. MrG says not for long...that the

jolt will probably kill it. It has a big old dent in the top left corner and a crack in the case, so I'm not giving it much of a life. I'll be glad to be without it for awhile.

[geniph]

33. The TV's picture tube will probably crap out in the next couple weeks

Ours did, after the Nisqually quake, when it came down onto its face. I was glad it didn't fall onto one of my cats (none of the people were home). It took it about two weeks to die, but once a picture tube goes, it's dead.

I wouldn't replace it for awhile. I didn't want to replace ours, but my husband threw a fit when I suggested not replacing it (we only have the one TV, and all I ever watch is movies, but his boys watch it pretty much constantly).

[Lisa]

43. that'll be an important educational experience!

He's probably old enough to make the connection between his pushing the TV over, and its demise. And that these things cost money, so he won't be able to watch TV until it gets replaced. Not as bad as damaging a living creature (which cannot be replaced like an appliance!), but still pretty serious because a) what he did was dangerous, and b) it was someone else's stuff.

These are all VERY important life lessons, MrsGrumpy! I know 20-year-olds who haven't learned such things. I'm glad he's okay.

[Catshrink]

10. OMG -- I so relieved that he's okay....

Spend some time with us...

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

To help you feel better:

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. Oh look at that...you are a dollface!

I wouldn't mind being in that group! Thanks a bunch Cat. You are the best!

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Laura

[Kadie]

12. I'm glad everything is OK.

I know just the panic you felt. I have a 3 year old that gets into everything and has a bit of a temper. I get nervous when things get either too loud or too quiet.

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. You got it with the too loud or too quiet. I guess Mama needs to

mind him a bit closer. But I am hoping he is at least a little cured of a horrid temper.

Thanks so much,

Laura


P.S. I love the terrific threes!

[DustMolecule]

13. Remember, he's also scared...

...because he wonders if he's in trouble for breaking the TV. I've got three children, and I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT! You're scared cause he coulda gotten hurt - he's scared b/c he coulda gotten hurt AND he might be in BIG TROUBLE.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. I think that is part of the reason he went to sleep. I remember doing

that in hopes I wouldn't get in trouble...the "They wouldn't wake a sleeping child to yell" angle. :)

[TrogL]

31. Didn't work for me

I called them "air raids".

I'd get woken out of a sound sleep and yelled at. I had no idea what they were talking about. In the morning they'd act all innocent and I'd just figure :wtf:

[kanrok]

14. Sorry about that.

Glad that everything worked out. My (nearly) 4 year old has tantrums from time to time as well. If it'll make you feel better I'll root for the Packers when they play the Bears. (But only for you).

[ScreamingMeemie]

45. Awwww, aren't you the sweetest? Regular season play even?

:hug: :hug:

I hate it so much when they throw these tantrums. Totally inconsolable. :(

[notadmblnd]

15. Take a deep breath and laugh

it's only a t.v. and everything is ok. you might want to consider taking the television out of his room until he's older or mount it from the ceiling where he can't reach it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. It was the living room television. We don't let him have electronics in

his bedroom...could you imagine with this boy??;)

[notadmblnd]

58. From your original post

I got the impression the T.V was in his room. Boys are a special treat. Mine who is now 11 went through a period where he was infatuated with the power of the hammer. He was about two then too. It seemed like everytime I turned around, he had gotten a hold of it again. I think he liked the sound of breaking glass and in about a two week period (when I finally figured a hiding place he could not access, quite the little climber my guy) I had a broken bathroom window, a broken front room window and a 27inch tv with about 7 chip marks in it from the hammer. I swear you can't take your eyes off of them at the age. Not for a minute, not for a second, NOT AT ALL. There were many days in his toddlerhood that I got so angry that all I could do was laugh. If I hadn't, I'd be doing time in jail for child abuse.

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. You are so right. That had to be expensive!

They are little ingenious monkeys, aren't they? :hi:

[notadmblnd]

61. I still use the television

we had all the windows (we needed new) replaced in the house shortly after. But you should have been there when he "axed" the spraypaint can when he was about 6. His dad was in the hospital and I had just gotten him nice and cleaned up so we could go visit, I let him go outside to play while I finished getting dressed and told him to stay clean. A few minutes later, he comes in covered in black crying, scared. I asked him what happened as I undressed him, he said the paint can had exploded when he stepped on it (it was a lie). As I took off his cloths, it struck me as halarious that the outline from the paint after his cloths were off made him look like he was still dressed. I stuck his little butt in the bathtub and asked out loud how he thought we were going to get it off. I warned him to stay there and I ran and got the Goo Gone. I came back with a rag and the can and began scrubbing the paint. I told him that this would more than likely sting and we scrubbed paint off for about 10 minutes, then ran him another bath so he could get dressed again.

My son is 11 now and I've never struck him. My philosophy is that I dont have to beat their butts, cause when they do something they are not supposed to do, they'll beat their own. There have been time that he's done something he knows he shouldn't have and come in and told me "you know mom, you are right. I did beat my own butt".

I could go on forever with these stories and he's only 11, I cant imagine how many there will be to tell by the time he's 20.

[DustMolecule]

16. He really doesn't need a TV in his room anyway....

...unless you are grooming him to 'live by the TV, die by the TV' - get all your information from the TV, TV good, remember it as a kid, my constant companion.....something to think about, imho.

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. It was in the living room.

:hi:

[DustMolecule]

36. oops - sorry

I jumped and landed smack-dab in the middle of a wrong conclusion! Please accept my apology. I'm glad that you and your son are okay. :-)

[blondeatlast]

35. Why do you assume it was in the kid's bedroom?

Let's try to be a bit positive here, I know well the trauma MrsGrumpy just went through.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

30. I'm glad he's ok!

My older boy used to throw intense tantrums. He broke mirrors and lamps, and shriek in public places so that I'd have to remove him from the premises.

It must be genetic, because I can remember, as a kid in the midst of a tantrum, banging my head on the floor until it bled. So I screamed, "Mommy! I'm bleeeeeeeding!!!!"

To which she replied, "Well go ahead and BLEEEED!!!"

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. Thanks so much! Oh man, you must have been something.

:hi: :hug:

Laura

[blondeatlast]

34. Mom to mom--I know that feeling all too well.

My son had been jumping on my bed, unknown to me, when I heard a similar crash. Turned out he had broken THREE blades off of the ceiling fan--which was running at the time.

The feeling in my stomach--may I never feel that again. Like I'd swallowed whole a brick coated in lard.

Damn, I know how you are feeling. If I could, I'd offer the real thing, but here's something for a bit of comfort anyway:

:hug:

Take care, and give the small Grumpy a hug from DU, too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. That's it, you nailed the feeling! I'm still not quite over it this AM, bu

but much better. Thanks so much.

Fan blades are another thing that give me sweats thinking about them versus a kid. :scared:

:hug: Thanks again! Laura

[proud patriot]

37. Oh thank goodness he wasn't hurt

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Thank you so much!

Only his pride and his fear for his self preservation when Daddy got home. All is well today.

Laura :hug:

[Lars39]

38. Glad he's OK, Mrs G !!!

I remember being about 5 and deciding I could *climb* the drawers to a very tall chest of drawers. Only thing that saved me was my scrawny little arms wrestling it back upright. I remember thinking, "That could have squashed me flat." It's really a wonder we survive childhood, isn't it?

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. Yes it is! and I did the very same thing! Except I got pelted by all

the drawers flying out...

Thank you so very much Lars!

:hug: Laura

[Pithlet]

39. I'm so glad he's okay

From a mom of two young boys: those close calls are very scary, aren't they? I know it's impossible to not think of what might have happened. Just think, it will probably be a story the two of you will talk about years from now, and laugh, even though there's nothing funny to you about it now. :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. Thank you Pithlet. I was pretty much ill about it all last night.

We are doing much better this AM and I have yet to wrap him in cotton, but it's getting to that. ;)

[soleft]

40. My son once placed a fish tank magnet in the middle of the TV screen

We had a blue dot in the middle of the screen for a few days, but can you believe we bought that set in 1986 and it still works pretty good.

What's a safety?

Sounds like you both had a real bonding moment. Years from now you'll look back and cherish it.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

53. Wow. That is amazing. We are on set number 4 in about 8 years. But

it's the only one in the house with the exception of one in the basement.

A safety keeps the television anchored to the platform/wall or both. I'm going to anchor it back to both for a bit yet I think.

Thanks so very much

:hug: Laura

[qb]

54. TV stands and little kids definitely do not mix.

I read about a toddler who was killed by a TV falling off its stand. Shelves and dressers should be attached to the wall - they make adjustable straps just for this purpose.

As far as the temper tantrums go, give him another outlet. We gave our son a punching clown. He also has a huge stack of big plastic blocks (hollow and very light-weight). He knocks them down when he's pissed, and then he has to help pick them all up again.

[LWolf]

55. Lots of good ideas here already.

So I won't add to them. I'm so glad your boy is fine! NSMA nailed it; let him learn from this experience. He's probably normal, and will learn.

I raised two boys. One normal boy. One not. One continous accident/event after another. None of them temper related, though. And it continues to this day. He's 24.

He was almost crushed by a large screen tv in the Northridge earthquake; missed him by about half an inch. I empathize with your experience; I've spent 24 years dealing with one scenario after another, and I still panic. It's become so ingrained that I can almost sense, when I pick up the phone, that something else has happened to him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. I think this one will keep me on my toes. I'm only sorry to hear that

it may go on for another twenty years...;) :hi:

[LWolf]

65. The silver lining.

At 24, I can still see my boy, hidden in the man. Sometimes it's a twinkle in his eye or a little grin; sometimes it's the surprise hug for no reason, or flowers for no occasion. And I'm always so grateful that he keeps surviving, and thankful for the blessing that he is!

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. That is a wonderful thought, and one that I will keep in mind...

For his Daddy still has that devilish twinkle that made me fall in love with him at 18. :hi:

[HEyHEY]

57. The safties?

What's that

[ScreamingMeemie]

63. You can bolt your t.v. to the stand and to the wall to keep it from

toppling over. :hi:

[flamingyouth]

60. Good grief, Laura - I'm so glad he's okay!

How scary for you - reading this, I just got sick to my stomach!!!
:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

62. Thank you so much. We are much better today. Although I'm a little

hovery!

:hug: Laura

[rbnyc]

66. I'm so glad he's okay.

Your poor heart must have jumped right out of your body.

*Big Hug*

[ScreamingMeemie]

68. Thank you very much...

Even thinking about it yet makes me sick. It is the scary side of parenting...but it is well worth it. I got to keep him on my lap last night which is getting rarer and rarer as my baby grows.

:hug: Laura