When my day starts with demeanor somewhere between Lois from Malcolm in the Middle and that kid from The Exorcist...
yes! YES! That's me this morning! YES!
...sack time is not what is called for.
no, no, don't tell me that!
Time for a little spiritual readjustment.
Sigh. Pull myself together and act like a grownup. Do I hafta?
The one parenting resolution I try never, ever, ever, ever to break is Never Make an Idle Threat. I was going to take Hambet to the County Fair today, but he refused to come to breakfast, finish his milk, or get dressed. So we're not going.
But I don't get the impression that he cares -- he probably doesn't remember the fair all too well from last year. So I will be the only one sulking.
After almost 7 years of parenting I have learned to add a codicil to that same resolution of "never make an idle threat," and it's "never use a punishment that will hurt you more than it hurts them"! :) Makes thinking of a consequence harder, but keeps me sane. Doing extra work around the house usually does it for me - my kitchen floor gets clean or the socks get matched, and I still get to enjoy the fair! My other favorite is, "you have to go to the fair with us, since we are all going, but you may not go on the rides/have a treat/whatever." This way my other kids don't revolt, lol!