Once we got home, mom made me sit at the kitchen table. She wasn't done punishing me though I felt I'd had plenty to last a lifetime.

After fifteen minutes, she pulled a chair up beside me and turned so she was facing me. "Are you done throwing a fit?"

Throwing a fit or tantrum was embarrassing. If I wanted her to treat me like a teenager, I needed to act like one. But being told I was acting out made me feel immature.

Maybe that was the reason she did it.

I nodded.

She pulled the pacifier out of my mouth and set it down on the table in front of me. "I won't have you arguing with me or your dad. Everything we're doing is to benefit you. Since you're under eighteen, we decide what's best for you. Then, when you're a legal adult, you can make your own decisions. That means you need to listen to us until then. Understand?"

I nodded, unable to meet her gaze.

She patted my hand before getting to her feet. "Go get a new diaper and the wipes out for me to change you. I'll be up in a minute."

I waited until she was a few steps away from me before I got up and went to my room. I felt embarrassed in more ways than one. I was being punished for talking back and it didn't feel good. I knew what mom was doing and saying was accurate considering the circumstances but I felt belittled.

But there really wasn't much I could do about it.

---

I stayed in my room until dinner was ready. I didn't feel like talking to mom or dad, especially when I knew they would ask about my day. I'd already pissed off mom and I didn't really want to make dad mad, too.

I felt my stomach drop as mom pushed a high chair up to the edge of the table. Again, like the car seat, it was made for someone my size.

Mom set a sippy cup on the table and then pulled off the table part of the high chair.

It felt like I all could do that day was cry. Tears filled my eyes and I ran from the kitchen. I got about halfway up the steps before sitting down and putting my face in my hands.

Dad appeared at the bottom of the steps before walking up to meet me. He wasn't one for small talk or trying to comfort with words. That had always been mom's specialty. Instead, he sat down beside me and pulled me into his lap. His arms wrapped around me and I buried my face in his chest, letting his hug comfort me.

We stayed on the steps for several minutes before my tears disappeared and my sniffling stopped.

"I convinced mom to make her mac n cheese. I figured you could use a pick me up."

I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself out of his lap, letting the carpet covering the steps rub against the backs of my knees.

He patted my back before he stood up. "Let's go eat before it gets cold."

I followed him down the steps and back into the kitchen. He helped me into the high chair, buckling me in at my waist before attaching the table part.

Mom and dad talked about their first day at work meanwhile I tried avoiding any and all conversations related to my day at school. I was still highly embarrassed from getting into trouble and couldn't look either of them in the eye. I finished my food first and was able to get out of the chair and leave the room.

I laid down on the couch and covered myself with the throw blanket that lay over the back. I let myself fall asleep without fighting it. If I could sleep and feel like my old self again, I was going to take advantage of it as much as possible.