The Cure for Tantrums

Yesterday at lunch, Rami dropped a slice of cheese on the ground, and completely lost it. 

He was screaming, screaming, screaming -

for water, for his Heshy (a much-loved blue and green elephant lovey), for a hug.

So I hugged him, and brought him a Heshy, and hugged him some more, 

but his crying didn't stop.

So I let him rest a little bit in his room, and told him I would be back when he was done with his temper tantrum.

It tapered off after a few minutes.

I went upstairs to see my sweet boy cuddled in bed, surrounded by his Heshys, (we have five, just in case,) eyes fluttering closed.

"Do you want me to tuck you in?"

"No."

"Do you want to sing your Shema?"

"No."

"Do you want to snuggle?"

"...Yeah."

I squeezed into bed next to him , kissed his barely-still-baby cheeks, stroked his hair.

"I love you." I told him.

"Why?" He whispered.

So I told him all the reasons that I love him so much.
I told him about his crooked smile that can brighten any room,

I told him about the sweet way he mispronounces words,

I told him about his obsession with my favorite coconut candies, even though it means he steals them.

I told him about how he tucks his arms straight down under his belly when he snuggles with me.

I told him about his willingness to go along with his brother's games

and his fondness for making his sister laugh.

I told him about how much I love the way he says my name - "Ah-mah." - with a goofy smirk on his face.

I told him about his temper tantrums, and how they can usually be fixed with a hug.  Or a Heshy.  Or both.

I twisted one of his crazy curls around my finger

and told him about how, as much as he looks like his Abba, 

he is his own little soul, and that is what I love so much about him.

When I finished, he murmured, "Okay," turned his head, and fell asleep.

Oh my goodness, how I love that boy.

Even (especially) his temper tantrums.