The sound of a tantrum -- A symphony in four movements

I. The allergro
The evening began peacefully.  EggEgg and Cola are merrily singing and playing in the bathtub while I snuggle next to Bobo for a final bedtime feed.  I could hear the click of the door lock as Tonton arrived home.

Before Tonton even have the chance to take off his coat, a bathtub fight broke out.  "That's mine! That's not 哥哥 (big brother's)!", shouted Cola. "That's mine, that's mine. that's mine, that's mine. Mine!"  The path to a complete meltdown has begun.

II. The adagio
Tonton tried to intervene, "Stop shouting, Cola."

"包包唔要停呀! Cola doesn't want to stop. Cola doesn't want to stop. Cola doesn't want to stop! Cola doesn't want to stop!Ah ah ah ah arrrrrrgh!"  Cola's screaming rose in an alarming crescendo.

(Tonton took some remedial actions, too disturbing to be printed here.)  "So will you stop now?"
"包包停呀! Cola will stop. Cola will stop. Cola will stop!.Cola will stop! Cola will stop! Cola will stop..."

III. The scherzo
"Ok guys. I want you both to get out of the bath and wipe yourself dry."
EggEgg packed away his bath toys and climbed out in full compliance.  Cola remained in the bath, not moving a finger to pack away anything at all.

As he noticed EggEgg wiping himself, Cola announced madly, "Cola wants the blue towel. Cola wants the blue towel. Cola wants the blue towel! Cola wants the blue towel! Cola wants the blue towel! Blue towel!"

"But that's not yours.  Your towel is the brown one." EggEgg tried to correct him.

"包包要藍色Blue!Cola wants blue!  Cola wants blue! Cola wants blue! Cola wants blue! Cola wantsssss!"

IV. The rondo
Tonton demonstrated endless patience.  "Pack up your toys first, then you can wipe your body."
"Cola wants wipe body now. Cola wants wipe body now! Cola wants wipe body now! Noooow!"

"Wait for your turn, don't you know how to queue up?"
"包包唔識排隊! Cola don't know how to queue up. Cola don't know how to queue up! Cola don't know how to queue up! Cola don't know how to queue up!"

So Tonton and EggEgg just ignore the madman and continue with their business.

Cola turned up the volume once more, "包包要同你傾計! Daddy, I want to talk to you. Daddy, I want to talk to you. Daddy, I want to talk to you! Daddy, I want to talk to you! I want to talk to you!"

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"I want I want I want I want..."  The Terrible Twos stage (18-30 months) is now in full force with Cola.  The noise pollution is usually accompanied by a furious spastic stomping of feet.  This daily struggle usually ends in a physical collapse on the floor once his energy has burnt out.

Luckily, we've been through this once with EggEgg.  Those were indeed stressful days.  Here's another round of torture.  But, come on, do your worst, we've been prepared!