Trip Causing Extended Neediness? Crankiness?

Even after the happiest, most carefree trip in the world, I need a little vacation to recover from my vacation!

I hope all of you will cut yourselves a little slack. Yes, dump on some extra TLC. Your boy may have questions in his mind and heart that he can't put into words. So might you, even though you're grown up.

Listen to him. (He may come up with comments or questions months from now, as well as in the next few weeks.) Talk with him. Get him to draw pictures of the trip if he's inclined that way. Let him know that everything is OK. Yes, it's too bad that Grandpa is sick. It's too bad that he yells, too, but some people are like that and we make up our minds to love them anyhow. No, Mama and Daddy aren't sick, and they sure don't plan to be, and they'll be here for him, and they won't be yelling at him unless he's in super-big trouble, and yes, Christmas is almost here.

I hope your son will find a great stuffed animal (or a truck - or whatever works for him!) under the Christmas tree to take to his own bed with him from now on.

P.,
It seems as if you had a good but challenged trip. The sleeping arrangements were not the best, so you had to sleep together. That in it's self just shows your son that you "could" sleep together and he may not understand why "we don't do it at home" but yet at someone else's home. Remember he is only 3.5 and his thinking is very different than ours.
Also, I am a firm believer that children know and sense more than we think. He could very well be sensing your feelings and worries about your father but yet he doesn't know how to put that into words. So he wants to spend more time with you, maybe thinking that he can help you feel better.
Your poor father might of not helped with his yelling, your son is not used to that, so there is another factor.
Just remember that he is your blessing :) keep giving him the love he needs. :)
Blessings

the long travel factors into it, but ....honestly, this is "Holiday Syndrome" !!

It's a normal reaction to the onslaught of stimuli during the entire holiday season! The lights, the sounds, the......all impact ALL of us!

Time for some extra quiet time, some solitude, some down-time....read more books together. Turn the tv off, play quiet Christmas music. Try to add as many peaceful elements as you can.....& you all will benefit. Peace!

Our family always needs some "down time" after going away to visit family (some of us need to cuddle and watch a movie, some of us need to escape to our rooms to read). I think his behavior is normal for his age as you readjust to a more "normal" routine again. Adjusting your routine can be quite stressful, and add to that the long trip both ways, I'm not surprised you're feeling a little *off* too. You can never go wrong with a little extra lovin :)

Sounds like M. needs some exra lovin too.
Give yourself and your son time to rest and recoup. Your son picks up on your emotions. It is very hard to go and see an ailing parent. As brave as you were your son knows something was wrong.
Plus your sick from the travel, your run down, Christmas is in three days, there is a lot of stress.
Get through Christmas as best you can, then when things calm down get back on routine.