You’re mean!

Ok, so that’s not exactly what I want to hear as I’m rushing in the morning to get kiddos and myself ready to get out the door. But I also didn’t want to hear my daughter screaming about taking her DVD back to the library and being hungry since she wouldn’t eat breakfast. So, I put her in timeout (VERY distressing to her. I’m sure the neighbors hear her screaming and crying “Mommy doesn’t love me! Mommy put me in timeout!”)

Yea, nice.

So then my 5-year-old son came up to me, “You’re mean!” It’s cute that he’s defending his sister, but I got down on his level and said, “Mommy’s not mean. Mommy’s trying to get everyone ready and your sister isn’t listening. So she’s in timeout.” I took her out a few moments later (when the screaming finally stopped) and she just snapped out of it, got her shoes on and went to the car.

Fortunately, these types of mornings are a rarity lately. I don’t know what’s happened, but we must have changed something because most mornings run smoothly. But on mornings like this, I be as gentle (but firm) as I can in getting everyone out the door. Both kids got themselves dressed, my daughter ate crackers in the car, and I walked into the office, made a big sigh, sipped my coffee and dug into work.

Here’s hoping the evening is better.