Thursday, April 24, 2008

Stealing Minutes

Ok, shhh... I'm hiding in the basement typing as fast as I can (which my record is 30wpm, so don't expect great things). Two kids are doing science projects in the kitchen and the mess was starting to make me crabby so I had to step out for a few minutes. One kid is sleeping, and the other- John The Mad Hitter- needs to stay by my side today if he wants to avoid any more disciplinary action. Being out of my site has been hazardous to his behind. I think he sometimes gets to his breaking point with everyone acting as his parent, but giving out bloody lips is not an ok way to deal with frustration, right? That's the Big Life Lesson of the day. When Mommy leaves the room, you can't start doling out justice as you see fit. Oh, and you aren't Indiana Jones either, and we don't allow bullwhips in the house...
How did I get here??

18 comments:

April said...

Hey, glad to see you posting again--even if it is stolen time! If you can make it through John the Mad Hitter, I have hope that I will survive Elias the Climber/Destuctor/Experimenter. Somedays it sure makes the piddly issues fall by the wayside, doesn't it? I'm choosing my battles today (sticking stickers all over random pieces of paper=OK; climbing on top of the stove while the oven is on, pulling out knives on the way, and searching the top kitchen cupboard for chocolate chips=NOT OK. Hmmm, since Elias is in the "danger to himself" category now, does that mean he moves into the "danger to others" category when he is 4??? Hang in there, Kris. I'm pulling for ya!

Kristen said...

Oh, April... Had I known we were fighting the same battle today, we could have joined forces to conquer them (or just ignore them and have tea)! Speaking of "danger to self"... just today I thought, "So what if I let John play with a knife? Maybe if he cut himself just a little bit, his fascination with them would go away and he would FEAR them..." Then I quickly shook that off and took the knife away for the zillionth time, explained in a yelling manner why he cannot play with knives, etc. Now I have him trying to take a nap. HE's not tired and he won't sleep, but he's confined and quiet for a few minutes. I need a structured activity for the afternoon that is both safe and quiet. Yeah, I know, TV would be perfect, but I already grounded him from that. Drats!

Kristen said...

Remember, Elias will probably be the child who will re-roof your house, fix your car, and unplug your toilet... if he doesn't blow himself up first!

Michael said...

Yes, John needs hands-on projects, but he also still needs rather direct supervision. I know what it's like and I feel for you but I can't do much from work.

I am starting to get a little nervous about moving the computer upstairs now that I read about the cyclonic activity that occurs during the day. Perhaps we could look at this as an opportunity to drill our responsibility and respect skills.

Don't touch ... (reprimand/discipline) ... Don't touch ... (reprimand/discipline) ... Don't touch ... (reprimand/discipline) ... etc.

Yes, I need to find more things for John to do than he can find that he's not supposed to do.

April said...

Michael, is that truly possible (finding more things for him to do than he can find that's he not supposed to do)??? I have tried that multiple times... it never seems to work her. Although summer before last I told the boys to dig a hole--that was a good one. I think they spent about 2 weeks straight digging that hole--and let me tell you, it's impressive. It's going to be the basement to their fort or something (a wine cellar???)

Kristen said...

Right now he's in the bathtub. It's the rainy day equivalent of going to play in the sandbox and he's very happy. This is a tip for those of you reading who don't have kids yet...
Am I right , April?

Kristen said...

I love the dig a hole activity! Send them over to dig a trench around the foundation of our barn! We need to waterproof the cement and lay tiling. How can we make that fun for boys? Foxholes? Trenches? WWI? Hmmm...

Julie Hedeen said...

Remember John cut himself "shaving" at my house a few weeks ago, and then did it again the next day at home. I'm thinking he'd be down to three toes before he figured it out. What was that Monty Python movie where the knight kept getting limbs whacked off but still was willing to fight? Don't let him watch it! Excuse me, I have to go shave my moustache now.

Julie Hedeen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristen said...

Oh, yeah, right. I knew there was a reason I shouldn't let him learn by experience. ARRRGH!!!!

Amber E said...

If it makes you feel better you are all doing much better than the families on the Supernanny show. Mom and I watched it on TV last night and were shocked, after a long day of coloring on the walls, balk talking and breaking things the 8 and 10 year olds wouldn't go to sleep without mommy so they went to bed at 8p in the parents room. The dad would watch a movie while the 4 year old feel asleep on couch, then the dad would put the 4 year old in one twin bed and he slept in the other. The family said things had been like that for about 8 years.

Kristen said...

Gosh, thanks, that DOES make me feel better! I love that show because it really helps lower the bar for us parents who struggle to attain some respect as qualified parents. It makes 90% of parents feel they are doing an EXCELLENT job! I wish I had cable so I could watch more self-esteem boosting programs like Nanny, American Idol, etc. Thank you for reminding me of all the parents out there who are doing a much worse job than I. I needed that!
:0)
YOu're such an encourager, Amber. Come live with us!

Kristen said...

Has anyone heard from Jamie lately??

Julie Hedeen said...

American Idol? Am I the only one left in American who hasn't (won't) watch it? Or project runway? I think it would be more interesting to watch reruns of a colonoscopy! (Popcorn anyone?)

Julie Hedeen said...

btw, jamie is out in the wilds of Wisconsin, incommunicado I think! She did get back from her honeymoon though. Joel too!

April said...

Yes, the bathtub is a great indoor rainy-day activity. We didn't do that today; the kids went to Grandma's instead. :-)

We've had a shaving incident of our own. Big Mike still doesn't get the "if it's there, they will get it!" thing (and this after HOW many kids???) and Elias found Daddy's razor in his (very accessible) bathroom door. He only got by with a slice across a couple fingers. Well, multiple slices--it was a triple edge. They leave a very tell -tale mark. Strange thought I just had... here I am keeping one boy out of the razors, while the oldest boy is looking like he will have to start using the razors soon. Oh my... feeling sad for my BIG little boy. He's growing up too fast!

And hey, Julie... I don't do any current TV shows. Sometimes I catch some latenight reruns of shows I won't let my kids watch, but otherwise, who has time for TV???

April said...

Yep, that description of the SuperNanny show makes me feel better, too. Yowzers.
... feeling like Super Mom!

Julie Hedeen said...

April, Kris and I were just hearing in two different places that while we moms sometimes want to keep our babies little and cuddly, God has BIG plans for them just like He has for us. John's Grandma Banitt used to say when she held a new baby, "Where will those little feet go?" I miss having the fights over the bathroom, the eternally empty milk carton, the wail in the middle of the night and all that; but I am SO proud of the difference my kids are making all over. Places I could never go and wouldn't want to go. "Children are a gift from the Lord. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of your youth!" And because you and Mike have really poured your lives into raising children who know right from wrong, God will bless them and you. It's a mulitgenerational thing.