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Instead of growing out of it, Michael became increasingly irritable and unmanageable at home. His moods changed like a roller coaster, and no one could predict what would set him off. Sometimes it was simply the word no. “We recognized what we started calling ‘the look,’ ” says Janice. “His eyes became almost feral when he was about to explode.”When Michael went into a rage, it was like a tornado hitting. He threw telephones and chairs, bashed mirrors, kicked in doors and broke the glass door of the bathroom medicine cabinet more than once. After each outburst, he was either remorseful or oblivious to what had happened.
He became more reluctant to be apart from his mom or dad. He stopped attending birthday parties and refused to go to school. This meant that Janice could no longer go to her office. She tried to work from home, but there were times when Michael broke keys on the computer, turned it off at whim and hovered over her, sabotaging her business calls. Until her husband came home from work, there was little respite.
Everyone had a different idea about how to handle Michael. Well-meaning friends and relatives accused Janice and Michael Sr. of being either too strict or too lenient. “Michael’s just spoiled and needs a good spanking,” said one of them. Although Janice was a confident mother, she began to question her parenting skills. The Bonises knew something was different about their son, but they reassured each other that he would outgrow it.
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