"A Mother's Desperate Attempt"

As Ashley began to prepare dinner, she couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Alex would eat something tonight. She had made his favorite - pizza - and she was determined to get him to take a bite. She carefully placed a small slice on his plate and handed it to him, watching his expression with bated breath. At first, Alex's face lit up with excitement. He took a small bite of the pizza and nodded in approval. Ashley's heart swelled with relief as she saw him chewing and swallowing. Maybe this was going to be a good night after all. But as the minutes ticked by, Alex's enthusiasm began to wane. He started to fidget and squirm in his seat, his eyes darting around the room. Ashley knew that look all too well - it was the precursor to a tantrum. "Can I have my iPad, Mommy?" Alex asked, his voice laced with a hint of whining. Ashley hesitated, knowing that the iPad was his go-to distraction when he was feeling overwhelmed. But she also knew that it was only 5 pm, and she wanted him to eat his dinner first. "Not yet, sweetie," she said gently. "Let's finish dinner first, okay?" Alex's face fell, and he crossed his arms over his chest. Ashley could see the storm brewing, and she steeled herself for the worst. As she watched, Alex's body began to tense, his legs stiffening and his fists clenching. And then, without warning, things began to fly. Alex hurled his plate of pizza across the room, the food splattering against the wall. He followed up with his cup, which shattered on the floor, and then his chair, which he kicked over with a loud crash. Ashley rushed to pick up the pieces, trying to stay calm as Alex's tantrum escalated. She had been so hopeful that things would go smoothly tonight, but now she was faced with the reality of caring for a toddler who was rapidly losing control. As she cleaned up the mess, Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over her. She was tired, and she was struggling to keep up. She wondered how she was going to make it through the rest of the pregnancy, let alone be a good mother to two small children. As the chaos continued to unfold, Ashley felt like she was losing her grip. She didn't know how much more she could take, and she couldn't help but wonder if Avan would ever be there to help her.