I think that Scott failed to realize how exhausted he was. I certainly didn't realize it. I find the idea that the meltdown 'ruined Christmas' only explicable if he had no resources left. Meltdowns are miserable, but they happen. I suspect that Scott had some idea about wanting everything to be just so to make up for the misery of being sick repeatedly during the last couple of months.

My expectations for Christmas day were very low. I expected to be cranky, bored and hungry. That meant that anything pleasant seemed more pleasant.