We are currently in Lake Tahoe for a family vacation. Matt, Falco, and I drove out on Friday in our rented minivan, and Matt’s parents and brother met us out here on Saturday. Our travel day began with whining, yelling, and crying from Falco, so that was an awesome start to the trip. He did do well once we got on the road, and he took a good nap after we stopped for lunch. His behavior has not been all bad since, but he has figured out how to scream “No!” in our faces when he is the least bit displeased, and it is not a new skill I am proud of.

The tough part of Falco’s bad behavior (and this is a sure sign that I should be in therapy) is that I worry what everyone thinks about my parenting skills when he acts rude. I already worry about what strangers think when he acts out in public, but now I’m also stressed about what my in-laws think. They don’t get to see him very often, so I figure if he’s acting bratty while they are around, they can only assume that’s how he always acts, which must be a result of my incompetence. When he starts hitting me or screaming in my face in front of a bunch of people, I feel like I’m on stage when I respond. Was I too stern? Not stern enough? Is he spoiled? Do I get too angry with him? Clearly these are already my insecurities, but having an audience magnifies them.

Enough about my neurosis; let me get back to our trip. We were hoping for snow in Tahoe, the main attraction, and imagined all the fun Falco would have playing in the winter wonderland. We did get snow Saturday night and there was plenty of it to play in, but turns out Falco doesn’t like it much at all. We get him suited up, get outside, and he is ready to go back in after about five minutes. He doesn’t like the snow to touch his bare skin, and he freaks out and starts crying if he falls, even in a soft pile of snow. The snow and cold are also giving Matt’s brother, Josh, migraines, so he isn’t a fan. Matt is coming down with the cold Falco and I have had for the past couple weeks, so he’s not feeling 100% either. Next time, we’re coming in the summer.

There is some good news, besides that we’re getting to see the fam. Since we have been here, Falco has pooped on the potty twice! This is a major breakthrough that he has taken months to work up to. He still has a lot of anxiety about it, but he’s making progress. Hopefully, defecating will soon be a non event for him, which is what we all hope for I guess. So, the highlight of our trip so far has been our son’s excretion. If you aren’t a parent, don’t you wish you were?

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that the boy is sleeping like a champ. We brought his kid’s AeroBed and put it on his floor in his own room. From the first night, he has gone right to bed without a peep, same for naps. In fact, he has been asking to take naps and go to bed a little earlier than usual. Maybe he’s overstimulated with the new house and new people, which could be causing his rage. Believe me, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.