With another adult in the family being out of town, I was left with three children today.  Cooking and cleaning took a large chunk of time.  No fun in this sunny day when I wanted so much to have some outside activities. The youngest one has proved to be most out of control.

His mother told me not to let him watch Chinese movies at all, as he should watch English movies to improve his English. I thought he did not have any friends around and did not find much joy in reading and any other activities, Chinese movies appear to be the only thing he truely enjoys here at home.  I would not implement his mother’s instruction to the letter and deprive him of this rare entertainment.  I have been kind to him but obviously he has repeatedly abused this chance of entertainment.

Tonight he watched it till after 10 PM, the time he has promised to go to bed. Upon being asked to leave the movie, he refused and would not even let me talk by raising his voice.  I don’t accept any breach of promise or any attempt to overpower me as he thinks he can.  So I told him to leave and I stopped the movie.  He was mad, crying and making a scene, saying he would never watch it any more and never watch anything at all. With that, he gave me the CDs and told me to throw them away.

On the surface I would do what he told me — throwing it away.  After awhile, he came to me, demanding me  repeatedly to tell him how I would dispose the CDs.  I told him, “Leave me alone. I can do whatever I want.  It is not your business.” He would not take this for answer and insisted on being told.  I told him, “You can treat your mother this way when you demand something.  But you cannot treat me as if you can make me do whatever you want.  Please respect my right not to tell you something I do not want to tell. You are an individual and I am an independent individual, too. I treat you with respet, so should you respect me.”  

I have never met anyone who has tried to control me like he does.  Just a few days ago, he told me he outsmarted me because he has read more than I do and thus knows more.  I don’t know what to say to him.  He told me “You are so dumb and I can trick you easily.”

I am sure he does not understand what I said about respect and individual at this point.  I am not upset with him. I just feel there are so many things that he needs to be told and so many places that I feel he needs to improve.  I know it is more than I can handle.

He realized I did not want to talk. So he left me alone but left a note on my bed, saying “I was not right in arguing with you.  Please accept my apology.  Can I have the CDs back?”  I knew he has regret giving me the CDs and telling me to throw them away.  He really needs to learn a lesson this time. Therefore, I will do what his mother told me to and will not return these CDs to him before his mother comes back.