The Splinter Tragedy

I hadn’t seen the kiddo in nearly a week when he finally came back to me last night. I cooked his favorite meal and sometime after that is when he showed me The Splinter.

It was HUGE and in the tip of his ring finger on his right hand. I, of course, said we needed to get it out. To which he replied, “NO!” and ran away, slamming his bedroom door.

My first thought was, NO HE DIDN’T! To which I proceeded to run in there, fling open the door and tell him to never do that again. We had a major battle of wills going on. He screamed bloody murder and I screamed bloody murder right back. Now. This was all BEFORE I even got the needle out. That stinker.

About thirty minutes and a very loud fit later, I called threatened to call his dad. When that didn’t seem to phase him, I made good on the threat. His dad tells me he’d had the splinter since Thursday. I don’t know about you, but three days is an awful long time to have a splinter in the finger. He said he figured it would just work its way out since neither he nor the kiddo’s grandfather could get it out.

I don’t know what it was, but something inside me snapped. I hung up with him told the kiddo that he would have to let met get it out or we were going to the doctor and HE was going to get it out. He threw another fit.

And I was at my wit’s end. So, I called Man. I mostly just called to complain but he gave me a good idea (he’s raised three kids; he has this all figured out). He told me to use a bag of ice to numb the pain and give him some Tylenol to complete the illusion and all would be well.

SO. Armed with this information, I calmly walk back to the kiddo’s room and make him open the door. We had a calm, rational discussion in which I told him to stop being a butthead and let me get the splinter out. I told him exactly how we were going to do it. He liked the ice and the Tylenol idea. He actually went for and he giggled at the butthead comment.

It took 30 painstaking moments but I finally got the thing out. Well, all except a sliver and the rest of it came out in his bath. I felt so triumphant but exhausted at the same time. I called Man back to tell him he was brilliant (like he needed more ego inflation). He (the kiddo) was most agreeable about The Splinter Tragedy and happily took his bath, washed his hair, and then played with his Millennium Falcon for a bit before bed.

He even told his dad, “I let Mom get my splinter out.” I couldn’t help it; I grinned from ear to ear. hehe

As for me… I was exhausted after the ordeal. I made myself a big cup of Earl Grey before climbing into my warm bed with my book.

It’s supposed to be cold most of the day today. I think the high is going to be 40. What is up with this nutty weather? And it’s back to work/school, too. Actually, I have to admit, I’m ready to get back to work. This staying at home thing was getting old. 😉

Happy Monday!