Forbidden Fruit

D had his surgery yesterday. Previous experience had me expecting that he would be groggy and take 12-24 hours to recover. I talked with the nurses about this, and they agreed that he should be admitted as an inpatient. The surgery doctor had a different opinion, though, so we had to "wait and see". So, after he was still sleeping 2+ hours after surgery, and still needing oxygen... they admitted him and we stayed overnight. He's recovered well and we were able to come home this morning. I was glad to be at the hospital overnight.

But... that left T home with the other kids. And he was about to pull his hair out! At work he has missed a lot of time this week so that I could take D to the various "car mechanic" appointments. And this on the week following his vacation, when things are backed up. And the kids at home... sheesh! At least knowing they are driving him crazy makes me feel not so bad! It's not just me!

I guess up until this past week they have been very busy with one camp or another. Now all we have going on are swimming lessons (and, apparently, fighting). I bet this is what my sister and I did to our mom, and I really regret it now!

So, with both of us at our wits' end, it was time to pull out the big guns! I promised a trip to the pool and then threatened not to take them if they didn't shape up! :) We actually made it to the pool pretty fast, but were only there less than an hour before we heard a loud rumble of thunder and they closed the pool! This absolutely was not long enough for T to get work done at home, not long enough for me to read at the pool, and certainly not long enough to wear them out! Plus they whined at *me* about the pool closing! Like I can control the weather! And all this while making snotty comments to each other and trying to make each other cry.

So I got creative... I forbid them to play with each other. Let them know that I'd bring them each up a box of toys from the basement, but they had to play by themselves for the rest of the day. And... it worked! The house was so quiet!! And by supper time they were begging to play together! (and I didn't give in!) After supper we played some cards together and had a good goofy time - and they were less hateful to each other!

So, now we have another tool in our parenting tool box. And another great memory was made, too. H has a habit of repeating lines from movies or tv shows. The thing is, they are often mispronounced or have words switched, and they are never spoken at an appropriate time. For example... tonight we were playing go fish. When H told T to go fish and he sighed at her she snapped back "Don't look at me! I'm a chicken wing!" And laughing with her about it just makes it a household phrase... it was used several times before the night was over!