Dinnertime

We are all seated at the dinner table. It has been a hot, stressful day, full of minor confrontations with the kids, and several major blow ups with him. It is later than it should be, for dinner with two young children, but the endless screaming, blaming, and accusations do take up some time...
We begin with the best intentions, determined to at least salvage this part of the day. It should, after all, be a peaceful family time.
While I attempt to make pleasant conversation with my older daughter, my toddler begins her dinnertime ritual of throwing food around the room, spitting it out, and general terrorism of the dining room.
I have long since given up on trying anything other than the most feeble request to sit down and behave. This is a child whom I love dearly, but is capable of sending me to places of frustration I never knew existed.
He has not come to any such reconciliation with this type of episode.
First, he asks her calmly. Next, he raises his voice, slightly at first, but it quickly escalates into all out screaming.
I have often wondered, as I watch this familiar scene unfold,what, if anything, goes through her very young mind that prevents her from deciding to take the easy route, and listen.
There must be a reason she must assert herself until we reach our breaking point. Perhaps it is simply a way for her to learn free will and independence.
I look over at him. He is turning slightly red in the face. No surprise there. He is holding his chest, not heart related, thank God, but the result of a hiatius hernia, and frequent stress induced indigestion.
I turn my attention now to my older daughter. She is also starting to feel stomach cramps, and is no longer hungry.She asks why this must happen every dinner time. I tell her who knows?
Then I secretly resent him for teaching her his unhealthy stress response, and for making her endure this hassle that should not have been her problem.
Once again,I hope that it will improve over time. I hope that he will mellow, and she will calm.,that I will be able to eat without the constant feeling of choking. I hope that she will grow out of it . I hope things will go better tomorrow. But above all, I hope that dinnertime will be over soon.
Wendy

Fiction.