That devilish spark in his eye says it all.

I reached out to our son's Teacher the other day because I have been concerned about his behavior as of late. He doesn't usually listen to us (I mean, what 6-year-old listens to his parents?), but lately, it has gotten worse. He's been disobedient, saying mean things to his baby sister, saying mean things to me, and the temper tantrums have become epic. They are more physically evident now, with fists clenched and his body shaking from head to toe.

On the day I reached out to his Teacher, we had one of our better mornings. I sent my son to school happy and in a good mood. However, I would soon learn that things had changed once he walked into his class.

His Teacher proceeded to tell me that when she asked him how he was, he responded with, "terrible, horrible, no good." When she asked him to elaborate, he said to her that he tripped on a toy that morning and spilled his milk. "Spilled his milk?" I repeated, incredibly confused. She said yes, that is what he said. I explained my confusion because he did not trip on a toy, nor did he spill his milk. I told her we had such a great morning, one of our best mornings in a long time. She then said, "he also said to me that he got gum in his hair." I stayed quiet for a moment because when she mentioned the gum in his hair, it clicked. I realized EXACTLY what my son was doing.

My son, the funny, smart, big-hearted little monster, was reenacting the opening scene from the movie "Alexander, and Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very bad day." We had watched it twice that past weekend because he enjoyed it. I asked his Teacher if she was familiar with the book and movie, and she said she wasn't, so I explained the story's concept.

We had a good laugh at the situation, and needless to say, I had a conversation with my son about when it was appropriate to be silly and when it was not. I also explained that he might need to tell people he is joking because sometimes the joke isn't that obvious.

We have some work to do with him, but I know that all he is going through is normal for any six-year-old living through a pandemic and having to share his Mami and Tata with a brand new sibling.
2020 has brought about so many changes in my son's life, but the one thing that hasn't changed is his need and ability to make people laugh.