Spontaneously took the kids to one of the neighborhood pools as soon as I picked them up from the sitter. It was hot, hot, hot at 5pm and gorgeous as it gets. I get such a kick out of watching Liam (and all the kiddies) laugh and beam at the sheer joy of running through and splashing in the water. Pure joy. Scarlet was instantly surrounded by 3 "new friends" laughing and playing and Liam was happy as a clam to trounce about solo. The sheer glee a neighborhood pool can bring is pretty priceless.
Worst Part of the Day-
Both kids have NOT been listening well or settling down for bed per my usual militant demands. Yes, I know there is bright sunshine until 9pm and there are kids and adults clearly running around playing and the damn ice cream truck cruising around all hours, but my oldest has spent the last 6.5 years hitting the sack at 7pm. I fear those days are numbered.
In what may pan out to be one of my poorer parenting moves, I told the kids that I hired a "non-listening elf" to watch them for their listening and non-listening behaviors. Instantly Scarlet burst into tears, "You mean a creepy little elf will be in my room at night??" I back peddled a bit, but stuck to my story (no, it isn't a monster...yes, it is smaller than Liam...no, it can't and won't harm them...yes, it smiles, no it doesn't have fangs...geez). Scarlet seemed pretty freaked out overall and Liam seemed intrigued to know of a fella smaller than him.
(I just needed some new, inventive motivation for my offspring. Charts don't have staying power, "X"'s don't work, the "thinking step" doesn't carry over into actual life, taking away treats/privileges is old and bribing never really worked for these two...
I just want listening on the first time. i.e. "Hey guys, time to go." "Yes, Mom, here we come!")
After night time smooches, Scarlet asked, "If you hired him you can fire him, right??" Maybe this non-listening elf is making an impression already?? (Or is this called a scare tactic?)
No comments:
Post a Comment