More Danger Boy Stories—I’ve Got Lots!

Suzy asked if it was true that the nurses told me DB would be “different” on the basis of my labor and his birth. ‘Tis true indeed. Almost all the parenting books I read (and I read many!) supported the idea that a “spirited” child would have a birth story different from his/her siblings.

                     Jenn and Danger Man on his 18th birthday

When DB was four months old my mother and I took him to Costco. He was fine on the way there, but once we got inside he started screaming at the top of his lungs. And he kept screaming. We abandoned our cart and drove him home, sure that there was some physical malady causing him excrutiating pain. I carried him into the house still in the car seat and set it down in the entryway to shed my purse. He stopped screaming, gave his body a little shake and smiled as if to say, “Thank god we’re home—I can’t stand that place.”

My mother and I looked at each other incredulously because we both read his expression and body language the same way. He wanted out of Costco and he knew damn well what he was doing. As we grew to know DB better we both remained convinced that he was consciously manipulating us.

When DB was 18 months old I was getting things set up at the co-op preschool and he kept taking a ride-on toy onto the mat. Frustrated, I said to him, “Do not set foot on that mat again!” He got off the big wheel, stood next to the mat, put his hands on his hips and, quite deliberately, put one foot on the mat.

When he was 3 my mother and I were sitting at the kitchen table chatting. He kept interrupting us. I finally said, “If you continue to interrupt us you’re going to go in time out.” He reached up, put both both hands on my cheeks, pulled my face toward him and kissed me square on the lips. Then he smiled winningly and said, “No, I’m not.” In between gales of laughter my mom warned me, “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.”

He was 4 & 1/2 when, upon our return from a trip to Canada and overtired beyond all reason, he started crying and, to better express his frustration, he raked his nails down the sides of his face and flung his head backwards. He was standing in front of the stove. He took a mole off his cheek and needed six stitches in the back of his head.

When I say there was never a dull moment with this kid, that is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Do you have a crazy kid story to share? I’d love to hear it—if you don’t have kids, what is the craziest thing you did as a kid.

Comments

[kcinnova]

I'm speechless.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

Did you not find any difference with te birth story of your son?

[Smalltown Mom]

"No, I'm not." PRICELESS!

[Little Miss Sunshine State]

I have a strong-willed son. At 3 years old he told me "I am old enough to make all my own decisions!!"

Also, at the same age, "I'm not doing that and you can't make me"

[auntjone]

My oldest was born right on time and needed a little help to get here...he's laid back and not terribly motivated. He walked a few weeks after he turned one and was an obediant child.

My youngest was born two weeks early with no "manual intervention". He walked before he was 1. He laughs at us when we attempt to reprimand him- has since he was an infant (he's 2.5 now)- and will make sure we're looking as he's preparing to do something he knows darn well he shouldn't be doing. This isn't a totally equal comparison because they have different fathers but I feel it is a testament to the birth-story theory.

Last night both boys got a hair cut. The youngest squirmed and flopped (but didn't scream, thankfully) and eventually announced "I all done" and tried to get vacate my lap even though the stylist still had work to do. Strong-willed doesn't begin to describe him.

[Busy Bee Suz]

He is the epitome of 'spirited'!!!!
I laughed at all these stories; aside from the mole removal and stove damage!!!
It looks like his birthday was wonderful, as is he!
I did a lot of bad things...I ran away. A lot.
And too many other things to mention!!!
I hope my kids never get wind of that....

[Allmycke]

Danger Man was lucky to be born into your family. Your pride in him shines through in every sentence.

My son was 6 years old and did something not allowed at school. His teacher asked him why and he answered:
"Well, that's a very diabolical question."
To my knowledge I had never used 'diabolical' in a conversation with him - but it sort of gave a hint what the future would bring.
Our discussions about different matters became almost epic as the years went by.

[Steph]

Great photos--glad he found productive outlets for all that energy. Kudos to you too!

[JCK (Motherscribe)]

Happy Birthday to your Danger "Man" and yes, Kudos to you, Jenn!

[Jenrantsraves]

Dylan was born 2 weeks early, and in about 3 1/2 hours. Hmmm...
Loved hearing the stories from when Danger Man was a kid.
So, how did you get him to tell you stuff about school? Oh yea, you said to become friends with a girl's mom in his class. I'll have to work on that.

[g]

Golly, Jen, it's amazing how much he looks like you!!

Our kid was the Non-Danger-Boy - the adjective we always used to describe him was "careful." He never did anything until he was ready to do it, but when he WAS ready, he was fearless.

He has always been a "good" kid but also a kid with a strong moral core. I always felt that, although I had something to do with his forming, that much of his personality arrived with him at his birth.

He was born with a sense of humor

[unmitigated me]

When my son was in second grade, we visited Chicago for a family christening. My husband used the term "jumped the gun" in conversation, and after explaining to the boy what it meant because he asked, my little blond boy in glasses said, "Ah. An idiomatic expression."

[Susie @ A Slice of my Life]

Our Mimi has always been a handful, so in desperation we turned to books. (OK, we always go to books, not just out of desperation!) We picked up one that was called something like "How to parent your strong willed child."

I started reading it to Shaun in the car and he kept interrupting me with, "Hey, that's me!"

We never did finish reading that book, yet the big joke is when Shaun is being rotten, I tell him to stop being a strong-willed child.

[Susie @ A Slice of my Life]

OK, that seemed much more interesting before I hit post! I need my coffee.

Happy birthday to Danger Boy...er...Man

[Jocelyn]

A part of me always thinks nurses take on aprocryphal story predictions for a child's future--just to give a new dimension for their protocol-ed days. However, your lad does bear out the spirited part of the prediction.

In our house, we maintain the kids took it out of us as babies (they always get you somewhere) and that, as a result of those early years of suck, we're now coasting easy. Well, I mean, not to gloss over things. They're mellow and easy, but they still bicker and are buttheads.

[green girl in wisconsin]

Love a kid who rules the roost with a firm and cute hand:)