Please Send Funnel Cake and a Gyro
I try very hard not to let my mouth write a check my booty can't cash. That applies to all aspects of life, but it seems to be the whole world of discipline that has been getting me in trouble lately.
Alexis is the epitome of the type of child who is best disciplined through the use of threats and consequences. Tell her she has until the count of three to stop jumping on the couch, and she will manage to quit just before the "th" makes it out of your mouth, but only if there is some sort of consequence involved. I'm a big fan of threatening to take away her dollhouse, Baby Shell, or her books. All are highly effective.
Last week Alexis decided it would be great fun to start acting like a three-year old and being straight out defiant at daycare. She was sticking her tongue out when told to do things, laughing when she got in trouble, and doing extra crap just to get in trouble. Boundary testing, if you will. On Thursday night when I got the scoop, I told her she needed to be nice at school the next day or . . . there would be no Betchtubles.
Serious behavior issues require serious consequences and there is NOTHING in this world that disappoints that kid more than telling her she can't go Betchtubles on a Friday night. (If you missed the explanation on that one, Alexis LOVES going to the Farmer's Market--she calls it "Betchtubles.")
So Friday rolled around and as Alexis and I were walking into daycare, we talked about what would happen if she wasn't good all day. She said she understood and agreed that she wanted to go Betchtubles, so she was going to be nice.
She wasn't.
So, my booty had to cash that check. Sure, the kid was HUGELY disappointed to learn that I wasn't bluffing. But, you know who was more disappointed? ME. I get a funnel cake every Friday when we go and do you know how bitter I was that I didn't get a funnel cake last week? BITTER.
So bitter I wanted to cry. FUNNEL CAKE!
But, guess who was even more bitter? Mr. Husband. Turns out that if he doesn't get his gyro, he turns into a crybaby as well. So we were a trio of crybabies, and two of the crybabies were mad at me.
I will never write that check again. Promise.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Reader Comments (39)
Bwaaaaahaaaahaaaahaaaaa
Sucks being a good follow through parent, doesn't it.
Vindication baby :-)
Damn woman, that girl gets cuter and cuter. Lovin' this outfit and the pic.
Bwaaaaaaa haaaaaa haaaaaaaaa!
I do that all the time and then think 'dammit! Who am I punishing here?'
And Boo is NINE! You would think that I would have learned my lesson by now.
And girl, your baby is ADORABLE in that pic. Who could believe she could be naughty...
WOW! Quit punishing yourself! Next time just tell her she has to sit in the car while mr.husband grabs the funnel cakes and gyros.
I ALWAYS forget that I have to accept the answer if I ask the question. Yeah, I stopped asking questions.
She is one gorgeous kid btw. WOW look at those eyes!
Great. Now I want a funnel cake and a gyro.
You know how parents say, "this will be harder on me than it will be on you?" I guess it's true!
Good for you though - what an example of consistency! Take heart - that one night of suffering laid some serious groundwork for Alexis - she won't forget that you stuck to your guns!
I know what you mean, but it's good that you followed through. Focus on the positive. And double up next week :)
And my, oh, my, that is one.cute.picture! If ever there was a photo that was the epitome of innocence, that might be it!
OH Mah Lord.
I can only imagine. Hubby did something similar. He took away Taggie because Sasha wouldn't stop hitting.
Yesh. That was a pleasant evening, lemme tell ya...he punished us all.
All I can think is 'this hurts me more than it hurts you toddler' ;)
Way to follow through mom. It stinks, but it must be done.
I hate it when Mark calls my bluff. Usually, when I threaten, it is something I want as bad as him.
Oh man!! It really sucks to be a responsible adult sometimes, doesn't it? Oooh...now you've made me hungry for Wiggles...all fair food, all the time...Making a date for Wednesday for that one...
Sounds like something I would do...funnel cakes rule! Love them and take them away from me? I'd be glaring at myself in the mirror.
Gyros? Yeah, I'd be glaring at you too, but hey, you have to be tough. What would Hubby have done...just caved? Yeah, I bet he would have.
Good going mom!
Eat extra funnel cakes next week!
Wow, Alexis is growing more beautiful by the day. And more spirited, too. You are SO screwed. :-)
Again, I tell you we are raising the same child. It's all about cashing the check...I hate that, but I'll do it. Even if it means no funnel cake for Mommy:(
Little known fact...I worked the funnel cake booth at the fair as a teenager...I make a mean funnel cake!
@Jonny's Mommy--Mr. Crybaby was crabbing because he thought he could get me to cave. He couldn't figure out why I wouldn't, since I was punishing him more than the Toddler. Go figure!
Doesn't it suck when you end up punishing yourself in order to give your child consequences? Some days I don't want to be the mommy! (And missing out on an gyro? Would totally make me grumpy too!)
OH I hate when the punishments I hand out actually punish me as well! Unfortunately, I think 3 is way harder than 2. WAYYYYY harder. But then it gets better, until they are 6, and then it is hard again.
LOVE that picture - great effects!
We learned years ago that you don't punish yourself with a punishment. It sucks. That being said, we also have a very spoiled 5 year old here because nobody wants to fight the battles any longer.
Mmmm, funnel cake, next time just stick with taking away baby shell :)
P.S. I love, love, love that picture, super cute.
That is so funny! I can't even count how many times I've made myself mad over my consequences that I've had to follow through with!! I feel ya!
That's the hardest part of discipline. You have to watch what you say so you aren't punishing yourself. That sweet angel in the picture couldn't of behaved like that!! :)
Tell Mr Gyro he can chill. You also got deprived of your funnel cake. I mean, seriously!
Also, Mr Canon too an amazing picture with this one.
Love that pic!
HAHAHA!!!! That is hilarious! I've caught myself doing that too. Threatening something that even I didn't want to give up. Lesson learned.
But at least you stuck to your guns! Well done! :)
oh yes, one must tread carefully on the road to punishments, lest they negatively impact YOU more than HER.
lesson learned, young lady?
I love that she was upset about missing her betchtubles. So very cute.
That is an amazing picture! She is so pretty!
I've never had a funnel cake before. I've had gyros, but we call them donairs here.
Oh, I hate that! Why can't they just be good so we don't have to come through with our threats! Man! That is just not fair. Next time, send Mr Husband to get his gyro and your funnel cake and bring it home. So there. Crisis averted :-)
You choice is having me come over to cook breakfast or make homemade funnel cakes and gyros. Stop coming up with awesome things to eat that I now want to make!
OMG, how could you deny those beautiful blue eyes and pink polka-dots ANYTHING?? I would cave...like a pile of whip cream on top of a funnel cake!
Ah, how we suffer for our children!
If it makes you feel better, I've never had a funnel cake!
Now as a side note, what photo editing software do you use?
I have a couple things to say. One - good parenting is hard! But, YAY for you. I'm guessing this week you'll get that funnel cake.
Two, this picture disturbs me. Her arm looks twisted! At first I thought she was belly down, but that would mean her head can spin ALL the way around, and someone needs to be called. Also, her face in this picture looks gorgeous - not toddler cute, but big kid gorgeous. Look at that skin, those eyes, the wispy hair. It is all just disturbing.
Love the pic of her! Good for you for sticking to your guns. I learned my lesson when I told the boy no Handy Manny before bed...I think I need it more than him sometimes!
@Irene and @Poltzie--that photo isn't edited except to add the faded frame. I actually very rarely take the time to edit a photo because I am L-A-Z-Y. If I do, I either do it right in Photobucket (which has crappy but functional basics like cropping and the frame) or I use Picnik.com. I have PhotoShop, but I still need to learn how to really use it. L-A-Z-Y.
Mmmm. Funnel cake and gyro. You must share, right?
I take reading time away from Clever. Yes, she cries over it.
And by the way, your photos of Alexis are gorgeous lately. She's been quite cooperative.
No FUNNEL CAKE!?? Say it ain't so! Now I Want funnel cake.
I am with Kidzmama - I think your photos of Alexis are looking particularly trantastic lately. Also - the people who are REALLY punished with punishment are the parents. I mean - GROUNDING?! What the hell - who wants a sullen teenager moping around all day unable to turn on the TV!
man, I am FOREVER "writing a check" I don't want to cash too. I have GOT to come up with punishments I can live with too!
So, you could have gotten someone to babysit while the mommy and daddy went to Betchubles, and THAT would have really driven home the consequences.
Oh boy. A funnel cake. YUM!
i haven't had one of those in AGES!
Alexis is adorable. I looovvee that picture!