ONE with his “headband,” his “stun gun,” and his trusty sidekick Ollie the Octopus.

Today, this little boy was sick and he acted like a complete tyrant. Sometimes when he’s ill, he is very sweet and docile. I don’t mind that at all; it makes me feel like my mothering skills really do make him feel better. But today he was a JERK. I can say that because I’m his mother and it’s true.

He threw a full-on fit when his favorite tv show ended and I wasn’t able to make it come on again. He threw a fit when I said we couldn’t get a toy from the toy store today. Hellooo … you have a 102 temperature. AND, you’re being a brat. So … no.

He threw a fit when I wouldn’t feed him his toast “like a bird.” I broke his toast into pieces and said I was sorry, but one mommy can only do so much, and right now his little brother was standing on top of the brick hearth — again — and he would have to feed himself like a big boy.

He yelled at me from the living room, “I WANT ORANGE JUICE!” I brought him orange juice and he yelled, “I DON’T WANT IT!” When I reminded him that even little boys who are sick need to mind their manners, he yelled “I DON’T WANT MANNERS!”

It was just a long, long day.