Good choice or bad choice? You make the call..
So, I got the call earlier tonight that Ella's school was already closed to tomorrow. When I told the kids, there was much screaming and shouting going on because that meant the they could go to Grammie's house ALL DAY LONG (an awesome situation for either of the kids...just ask them). In the midst of all the enthusiastic celebrations, Luke decided he needed a quick potty break. He ran to the bathroom, flushed, then I heard an extended WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and some unknown sounds. Knowing my child and fearing the worst, I ran to the bathroom where I found him sitting on the floor under the towel bar with a sheepish look on his face next to the heating vent that was semi-pulled out of the wall and the towel sitting on the floor. I think we all can figure out what happened next but for those of you who don't have a crazy, energetic 5 year old who has been cooped up in the house for the last 2 days it goes a little something like this: He went to the bathroom, jumped up, grabbed the towel bar, swung on it, squealed like a howler monkey, knocked the towel off the rack, fell on his tush, and knocked the heating vent out of the wall on the way down.
Let's just say there was some firm talk about "good choices" versus "bad choices" and a little bit of consequences. I'll not say what the consequences were but suffice it to say I did not pour hot sauce down his throat and put him in a cold shower like that crazy lady from Alaska on Dr Phil that's all over the news (click the link if you don't know what I'm talking about).
We then went upstairs for a bath and Luke was still upset about his bad choice. I told him that everybody makes bad choices sometimes. Ella makes bad choices, Daddy makes bad choices, etc, but it's what we learn from the bad choices that makes the difference. I thought it would be a good idea to call Grammie and have her tell him about Uncle Jeffy and his bad choices as a child. I would have had her tell him about my bad choices but I figured there would be too few examples for Grammie to talk about and that Luke would identify more with a male example.
Grammie got on the phone and told Luke about bad choices that Uncle Jeffy made as a child. She even tried to get Poppy in on the discussion by prompting him to tell about his bad choices. Poppy then proceeded to talk about how he had made a bad choice 40 plus years ago when he chose Grammie. Grammie then proceeded to scold Poppy in an exaggerated whisper that "Damn it, Mike, we're having a moment here and you need to be quiet or get off the phone." I felt it only fitting that I point out to Luke that Poppy made a bad choice to make a joke when Grammie clearly wanted him to make a good choice (ironic, yes?) and tell about all his faults. She then gave a whole laundry list of examples of what Poppy did wrong in his life that didn't include his 24/7/365 commitment to their love.
Ah, the sweet, sweet sounds of matrimonial bliss! (As a side note, my parents are happily married. They only want to kill each other sometimes.)
As a fun aside, let's do a quick poll. Lady with the hot sauce and cold shower parenting technique: heinous or hunky dory?
So, I got the call earlier tonight that Ella's school was already closed to tomorrow. When I told the kids, there was much screaming and shouting going on because that meant the they could go to Grammie's house ALL DAY LONG (an awesome situation for either of the kids...just ask them). In the midst of all the enthusiastic celebrations, Luke decided he needed a quick potty break. He ran to the bathroom, flushed, then I heard an extended WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and some unknown sounds. Knowing my child and fearing the worst, I ran to the bathroom where I found him sitting on the floor under the towel bar with a sheepish look on his face next to the heating vent that was semi-pulled out of the wall and the towel sitting on the floor. I think we all can figure out what happened next but for those of you who don't have a crazy, energetic 5 year old who has been cooped up in the house for the last 2 days it goes a little something like this: He went to the bathroom, jumped up, grabbed the towel bar, swung on it, squealed like a howler monkey, knocked the towel off the rack, fell on his tush, and knocked the heating vent out of the wall on the way down.
Let's just say there was some firm talk about "good choices" versus "bad choices" and a little bit of consequences. I'll not say what the consequences were but suffice it to say I did not pour hot sauce down his throat and put him in a cold shower like that crazy lady from Alaska on Dr Phil that's all over the news (click the link if you don't know what I'm talking about).
We then went upstairs for a bath and Luke was still upset about his bad choice. I told him that everybody makes bad choices sometimes. Ella makes bad choices, Daddy makes bad choices, etc, but it's what we learn from the bad choices that makes the difference. I thought it would be a good idea to call Grammie and have her tell him about Uncle Jeffy and his bad choices as a child. I would have had her tell him about my bad choices but I figured there would be too few examples for Grammie to talk about and that Luke would identify more with a male example.
Grammie got on the phone and told Luke about bad choices that Uncle Jeffy made as a child. She even tried to get Poppy in on the discussion by prompting him to tell about his bad choices. Poppy then proceeded to talk about how he had made a bad choice 40 plus years ago when he chose Grammie. Grammie then proceeded to scold Poppy in an exaggerated whisper that "Damn it, Mike, we're having a moment here and you need to be quiet or get off the phone." I felt it only fitting that I point out to Luke that Poppy made a bad choice to make a joke when Grammie clearly wanted him to make a good choice (ironic, yes?) and tell about all his faults. She then gave a whole laundry list of examples of what Poppy did wrong in his life that didn't include his 24/7/365 commitment to their love.
Ah, the sweet, sweet sounds of matrimonial bliss! (As a side note, my parents are happily married. They only want to kill each other sometimes.)
As a fun aside, let's do a quick poll. Lady with the hot sauce and cold shower parenting technique: heinous or hunky dory?
3 comments:
Very funny story about your mom and dad's conversation!! Poor Luke ~ he's such a cutie!!
I'm just proud of Grammie for calling Poppy by his given name, instead of that name she's no longer allowed to call him. You know the one I'm talking about. The one my mom gets to call my dad because it's actually his name. ;)
Victoria, the bite can hurt like h3!! when an old dog is awaken from a deep sleep. Bow-wow!
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