This Too Shall Pass

I am particularly beat down at the moment. The end of the school year has me clinging to the sides of our apple cart with all of my might, in hopes that I can keep it balanced and upright for just two and a half more weeks. 

In addition to the usual end of school year insanity (parties, gifts, projects, grading, and so on), Matthew has been having a particularly rough go at life lately. He's REALLY cranky a great deal of the day. He's obsessing about random items (like the Mexico flag a little boy was waving at Alyssa's soccer game-- for 45 minutes straight!) He's crying on the way to school. He has zero coping mechanism, so if you tell him no, it is a monumental meltdown.  

We've gone the last few weeks hoping to find the magic bullet. He's not eating enough, so let's figure out how to get him more food. He's seemingly tired (and waking up TOO early), so let's put him to bed earlier, with a fan, without a fan, with the top bunk removed, on the top bunk. Maybe he's sick, so let's take him to the doctor (who says he looks great). We are running out of tools in our toolbox, and not sure what else to try. I feel like we have tried it all, and he's still struggling.  

I keep telling myself that this too shall pass, but I don't know if I really believe it. With Matthew, maybe this is our new 'normal'. Ugh, that idea is so horrible I can't...just can't. This too shall pass. This too shall pass.

Matthew falling asleep sitting up while we waited for the doctor. He's obviously tired, but the 6:30 bedtime doesn't seem to be helping!