Overreaction to Children???

“What we have here, is a failure to communicate,” from Cool Hand Luke.


German puts out cigarette with fire extinguisher Tue. Feb. 19, 2008

BERLIN (Reuters) - A virulent anti-smoker in Germany was so angry when his girlfriend lit up he emptied a fire extinguisher to put out the cigarette, caking her and their apartment in powder.
After the woman ignored his request not to smoke, the 42-year-old sprayed the contents of the extinguisher all around the flat shouting abuse, police said.
"He said he wasn't bothered by the damage it caused," the spokesman said. "And that he's through with his girlfriend."

Yes, those reformed smokers can certainly be emphatic. But haven’t we all had moments when we overreacted to something? Or is it just me?

In a police station fifteen years ago:
“Now Ms Flynn, I know you don’t think you did anything wrong, but driving a Bobcat through the sliding glass door and scooping up your children's toys and then driving and dumping them in a landfill is a little extreme, don’t you think?”
“You don’t know these kids, Officer. I swear they are the spawn of Satan! I can’t keep up with them! One is three the other is two, together, they have the combined destructive power of a Category Five Tormado.”
“You mean tornado.”
“No, I mean tormado, that’s what my daughter, the evil one, calls it. They call down the powers of hell and in the three minutes it takes me to run to the bathroom and back, they have gotten toys I have never seen and filled in the remaining spaces on the rug, trapped the cat in the dishwasher, kneecapped the mailman with a wooden spoon and ground up my glasses in the sink disposal. I think they communicate telepathically with other children and systematically select one mother at a time to drive insane. It’s their goal to take over the world. I think Mr. Rogers is their ring leader. I think he sends them messages through the TV.”
“Now, Ms Flynn. Stop and think how that sounds.”
“You’re right. Mr. Rogers couldn’t do it alone. The Teletubbies must be in on it too. It’s that Tinky Winky...or maybe Po, no Po isn’t bright enough, definitely Tinky Winky.”
“You know what you need? You need to take some time off during the day, treat yourself a little, give yourself a break.”
“Right, and whose gonna watch the twin pillars of peril?”
”How about your husband? Won’t he watch them awhile?”
“Not in this life.”
“Maybe you should get a little medication, to lower your stress level. Get some valium from your doctor.”
“Now there’s a idea I can use! Valium, better living through chemistry, why didn’t I think of that?”

Two weeks later, in the same police station:
“Ms Flynn, we’re all real glad that you’ve stopped using construction equipment as a means of housekeeping and child rearing.”
“Yes, things are so much better now.”
“Can you tell me why your children just sit on the couch now? They don’t even watch TV, they just stare into space.”
“I move them every hour.”
”Yes, I’m sure you do. But why are they so floppy and why do they need to be positioned on the couch?”
“It’s your plan, it’s working extremely well, I’m very happy.”
“My plan?”
“You suggested I go a see a doctor and get some meds to help me deal with the stress of raising two children under five.”
“And you did that?”
“Yes. I’ve been giving the kids regular doses and everything is just wonderful, there’s no fighting, no destruction, no screaming, nothing. It’s perfect. I get up in the morning, water the plants, position the children, then I might bake something, or watch Oprah. I can’t thank you enough for your advice.”
“Actually, I meant that you should take the medication.”
“They didn’t have enough control before? You want ME to medicate MYSELF and give them all the strategic advantages in this parenting war? I think not.”
“It’s called child abuse.”
NO - it’s called self defense!”
“Give me the medication, Ms. Flynn.”
“Here’s my purse, get it yourself.”
“What the hell is in this bag? Everything is sticky and damp!”
”My kids poured maple syrup in my bag before I put them on meds.”
“I see. You know, perhaps I’ve been a little hasty.”