It was just before bedtime and Todd told the boys they should start cleaning up their toys. They both groaned and headed over to their toy box. Joey began diligently picking up toys and putting them back in their designated spots. Tommy ever so slowly would pick up a toy, look at it, and start to play with it. Todd again reminded him to clean up.
Tommy dropped the toy in the toy box and then began playing with the next toy. This routine continued with each toy that he picked up. I gave him two more reminders to pick up the toys, not play with the them, and that if I had to tell him one more time then he would have to sit on the naughty step.
He decided to test me, ignored my instructions, and kept playing with the toy.
I said, in a very exhausted and annoyed voice, "Alright, that's ENOUGH! Get your BUTT on this naughty step and SIT here until I come to GET you!"
Knowing that I meant business he hurried his little tush over to the step and sat down. When his time was up I called him over to me. I explained that he knew he should have been listening and that for him to ignore what daddy and I told him was not right. He apologized and gave me a big kiss.
"I love you, Thomas" I told him.
"I love you too, mumma" he repeated back to me. And with a big smile, batting his long eyelashes at me and patting my cheek he said, "Now you're back to being a nice mumma!"
Gotta love the guilt trips. I was the primary parent since husband was out of town last week and I got "you mean, mommy" (where did that come from??). I also got "I hate mommy" (!!!!!), which made me cry and, I think, helped her see that the word is hurtful. And this week, she's back to spontaneous hugs and frequent "I wuv you". I am going to be in sooo much trouble in about 10 more years...
ReplyDeleteSo, did he go back to being "listening Tommy?" If only it were that easy, right? ; )
ReplyDeleteHaHa! Nice Mumma! That's hilarious! good for you for sticking to your guns!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure God put little boys on this earth to test our patience, Katherine! My two did mine all the time...and often got on what I thought was my last nerve...but they always found one more before they got to the last one...who knew? Hugs to Thomas...and Joey, too...
ReplyDeleteSandi
Hilarious! What a cutie. I wish we could be nice mommies all of the time... maybe when our kids are in their 20's or 30's. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm frequently told I'm the 'mean mommy' here for enforcing naughty step time outs. Lucky they're so darn cute.
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling story!!
ReplyDeleteHave a good day, Kathryn - see you - Kellan
lol, kids...they're too much sometimes!
ReplyDeleteMy kids aren't he only ones? Whew! :)
ReplyDeleteit is hard isn't it. :)
ReplyDeletebrittany
They know just how to do it, don't they?
ReplyDeleteAwww how could you keep a straight face? I love kidlet stories like that. :)
ReplyDeleteOh this parenting gig is something, isn't it? From chaos to bliss in 3.5 seconds! :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww that's so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute. You did the right thing but it sure can be hard sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThey sure know how to play you sometimes, don't they?
ReplyDeleteVery cute. I'm glad you can go "back to being a nice mumma".
My 4 year old always throws out the, glad you are being nice today mom to me.. I always reply with Today, huh?
ReplyDeleteGrrr... my daughter says things like that.
ReplyDeleteOh if they would only listen and follow the rules, we could ALWAYS be the nice mummas......I'm known around my house as "The Kill Joy" thanks to my husband coining the phrase. Someone has to do it though.....
ReplyDeleteHow do they manage to learn how to manipulate so quickly? It kills me. And, I agree: it sucks to be the mommy who disciplines.
ReplyDeleteFrom one "heavy" to another this was so funny!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that sometimes it takes the time out before they will actually follow the rules? Whenever will this testing phase be over? When they are 30?
Such a cute story, and thanks for sharing with all of us! :)
We've been having the same drama at our house....don't you wish those toys would just pick themselves up?
ReplyDeleteGood job. I hope you are still blogging during their teenage years.
ReplyDeleteGood job. I hope you are still blogging during their teenage years.
ReplyDeleteGood job. I hope you are still blogging during their teenage years.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Why does it do that when I comment on your blog. I did not mean to yell.
ReplyDeleteAh I hate those breaking moments. I have them all of the time! GRR. We are mean mammas!
ReplyDeleteThey sure melt our hearts, and put fire into our toes!
ReplyDeleteMy 3 year old is all about " I do NOT like Momma". or Dadda, or his brother or sister...
Cheers! Thanks for sharing.
It's not easy being the bad guy sometimes. Seems like I have days when that's all I am. I get angry with myself on those days!!
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious. I have been told a couple of times that I was a mean momma. Teehee.... only to be hugged a minute later.
ReplyDeleteCute.
Oh how I hate being the mom and the dad. (Daddy works in a different city during the week, and we only see him on weekends....*sigh*) I'm "mean Mommy" a LOT!!! Oh well. I guess it just means that we're doing our job, right?
ReplyDeleteToo cute!
Aw, adorable. You are clearly doing something right that he is so charming and sweet.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's hard.
ReplyDeleteI love the honesty! It definitely is hard being the heavy. And those sweet faces at the end of a time-out... enough to melt the most frustrated of mommy hearts!
ReplyDeleteThey learn so quick don't they! I get told, "don't be angry wif me mommy..." And of course, the sentence never ends with daddy :( It's so hard!
ReplyDeleteWe have the naughty chair! But he's only 28 months old so not sure if he really understands
ReplyDeleteOh boy. Watch out for that cutie-pie.
ReplyDelete