Again, this morning, for about the ninth time in a week, my son and I
blew up at each other.

(Yesterday was the exception)

On the one hand, I feel like he is deliberately baiting me by saying
or doing things that I’ve already made clear are not acceptable.

On the other hand, it is becoming more and more apparent that it’s not
him, it’s me.

Perhaps I’m really being too harsh, too demanding, too strict. There
are some things that are important, and there are other things that
are just annoying, and I think I’m dwelling too much on the latter.

One thing for sure: something’s gotta give. If we fight like this,
daily, when he is barely 10, can you imagine when he’s 15? I can’t.
I don’t think we’d both be living under the same roof, if this keeps
up. The daily fights, I mean. Certainly sooner rather than later my
wife would step up and say “shut the fuck up and get the hell out.”

Zen time: You will not be punished for your anger; you will be
punished by your anger.

*deep breath*

It’s up to me to make this work.