Let the record show

that at the dinner table Monday night, Ziad, under severe provocation (which, it has to be said, occurred largely as a consequence of his own rash behavior) flew into a seething, sobbing, grimacing rage. Yet basically kept himself under control. He didn't give any one the evil little smile he gets when he's so mad he doesn't care what happens next. There was none of that tight, high-pitched voice. He didn't make any horrible threats. He didn't grab or hit, he didn't yell or accuse. He informed us, his voice quivering with fury, that he was very, very angry. And that was as far as it went.

To the parent of a docile child, this may seem so trivial. Perhaps such a parent would even find it shocking that a child can get so angry, or that the lack of those behaviors would ever be reason to rejoice. For me, though, I am so impressed with the growth he demonstrated that I feel entirely more hopeful for his future than I did before.

Now, if he can just relax a little, maybe he doesn't need to get so angry in the first place.