Cranky Days

Boy has life changed since kindergarten started. I expected the tears - both mine and hers. I expected the long days - again, both mine and hers. What I didn’t expect was to wait all day for her company and then see it dissolve into a screaming match once she got home.

It starts insidiously enough. First her exasperation is amusing. We’re still honeymooning from her long day away from home, and I’m just glad to see her. Then she decompensates abruptly into screaming, hitting and generally just being an entirely different child. By the time bedtime hits my patience has long been worn away.

I suspect her behavior may be linked to sleep deprivation. For the first time she’s having long days without a nap. I realized her behavior may be fatigue related when one day, in the middle of screaming, she started hysterically laughing and finally out escaped a yawn. Now that’s tired! I haven’t quite figured out what to do. I’ve tried one on one time and making sure she gets her naps when she’s home. She also goes to bed early on school nights. It seems to be helping a little.

Suggestions anyone?

Sheila Cason, MD