Parents.. with different treatment

The time colby snapped..

It had been a relatively calm afternoon at home, with the boys playing in the living room while Valerie was in the kitchen, tidying up. Xander was sitting with his iPad, focused intently on one of his favorite games. Being just three years old and having ADHD, Xander often found it hard to sit still, but his iPad had always been a way for him to channel his energy into something calming. He loved the bright colors, the sounds, and the simple interactions. It gave him a sense of control in a world that often felt too big and too fast.

Xavier, two years old and as curious as ever, was toddling around the room. He had noticed Xander's iPad and, like any little brother, wanted a piece of the action. Xavier approached quietly at first, reaching out with his small hands to grab the iPad from Xander's lap.

"Xavier, no!" Xander snapped, pulling the iPad away, his face scrunching up in frustration. Sharing had never been easy for Xander, and with his ADHD, his emotions often bubbled over quickly.

Xavier, unfazed by his brother's protest, reached for the iPad again, this time managing to grab it. A playful giggle escaped from Xavier's lips as he tried to run off with it.

Xander, now fully frustrated, jumped up and followed his brother. "That's mine!" he shouted, his voice rising as his emotions got the better of him. He tugged the iPad out of Xavier's hands, and in a quick moment of impulse, he slapped Xavier's arm—not hard, but enough to startle him.

Xavier, not understanding that the slap wasn't meant to hurt, burst into tears. His small face scrunched up, and his wail filled the room as he sat down on the floor, clutching his arm as though he had been seriously hurt.

The sound of Xavier's crying echoed through the house, and Colby, who had been working in the next room, came rushing in. He saw Xavier on the floor, crying, and Xander standing over him, holding the iPad.

"What happened?!" Colby demanded, his voice sharp as he knelt down to check on Xavier.

"He took my iPad!" Xander yelled, his frustration still fresh, his body trembling with the overwhelming emotions.

Colby, already on edge from a long day, snapped in a way that was rare for him. Without fully thinking, he grabbed Xander by the arm and gave him a firm swat on his bottom. "I told you not to hit your brother!" Colby shouted, his face tight with frustration.

Xander froze, his eyes wide with shock. He wasn't used to his dad raising his voice like that, and the sudden physical reprimand was more than his little three-year-old mind could handle. His own eyes filled with tears as he stood there, shaking, not fully understanding why his dad was so angry. He had just been trying to protect his iPad, after all.

Valerie, who had heard the commotion from the kitchen, rushed into the living room. She saw Xander standing there, tears streaming down his face, and Xavier still crying on the floor. She immediately sensed that something more had happened.

"Colby, what's going on?" she asked, her voice filled with concern as she knelt down beside Xander, pulling him into her arms.

"He hit Xavier," Colby said, still breathing hard from the rush of anger. "I told him not to hit, but he just—"

Valerie cut him off gently but firmly. "Colby, he's three," she said softly, holding Xander close. "He doesn't know how to control his emotions yet, especially with his ADHD. We have to handle this differently."

Colby stood there for a moment, the reality of what had just happened sinking in. His eyes softened as he looked at Xander, who was still sobbing quietly into Valerie's shoulder. The guilt hit him all at once—he had overreacted. He knew it. Xander was too young, too small, to handle such a big reaction.

Colby knelt down beside them, reaching out to touch Xander's arm gently. "Hey, buddy," he said, his voice much softer now. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled, and I shouldn't have hit you. That wasn't right."

Xander sniffled, looking up at his dad with tear-filled eyes, still hurt but starting to calm down in the safety of Valerie's arms.

Valerie continued to hold Xander, rubbing his back as she spoke to both of them. "It's okay to be upset, Xander, but we don't hit, okay? Not you, and not Daddy. We have to talk about how we're feeling. Can you tell us what happened?"

Xander, still shaky, nodded and mumbled, "He took my iPad, and I didn't want him to..."

Valerie nodded in understanding. "I know, sweetie. It's hard when someone takes your things. But instead of hitting, you can ask for help. We'll help you if you're upset, okay?"

Xander nodded again, his tears starting to dry, but he still looked over at Colby, searching for reassurance.

Colby, feeling the weight of his earlier reaction, reached out and gently pulled Xander into his arms, hugging him close. "I'm really sorry, buddy. I shouldn't have done that. I love you, and I'll do better."

Xander leaned into his dad, his small body relaxing into the hug, the comfort slowly replacing the fear and confusion.

Valerie glanced over at Xavier, who was still sitting on the floor, sniffling but no longer crying. She picked him up and kissed his cheek. "It's okay, baby. You and Xander are both still learning. Let's all be gentle with each other, okay?"

With Xavier now settled in her arms and Xander calming down in Colby's, the tension in the room began to fade. Colby looked at Valerie, grateful for her ability to step in when things got out of control. He knew he had let his emotions take over, and he vowed to do better next time.

"We're all learning, aren't we?" Colby said softly, giving Xander one last squeeze before setting him down.

Valerie smiled gently. "We are. And we'll get through it together."

The boys, now calmer, went back to playing, and Colby and Valerie exchanged a look of understanding. Raising two small children, especially one with ADHD, wasn't easy, but they were learning just as much as their sons were. It was a process, full of mistakes and forgiveness, but they knew that, with love and patience, they could get through anything together.