A kid from the Waldorf School camp last summer came over for a playdate, with his wee brother.  Had a great afternoon with our kids.  Mum - german lady called Uli - seemed v pleasant.  Would be great if Joey and the boy did become good friends.  He needs it.

Strangely enough, after a great afternoon, we had a bit of a blow-up with Joey.  I do think that we have been too soft on Joey as regards his facial expressions, noises and responses when he is being talked to by adults.  With the result that he can be very insolent-looking.  Also, too often he is a bit too mean and nasty to his sister.  These two came together this evening.  Joey then had a major tantrum and ended up in bed.  So I go up to talk to him and he is sobbing, saying that he doesn't want to be mean and needs us to help him.  I tell him that we are trying to help but he has to learn to listen and learn, to accept punishment and learn from it.  That we are not the enemy, looking for fights and that he has to stop fighting us.

All is calm again but it really is heart-breaking.  He has been a lot better over the past several months but we are not there yet - and Anne and I need to do much better.