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First off, I would like to state the fact that this is the first time since I've gotten home that I have sat on my butt for longer than 3 minutes. That detail paired with my freshly poured glass of pinot grigio... makes me all sorts of content.

Levi got in trouble at school today. Today AND yesterday! Which is nuts because yesterday was the first time all year his teacher sent a note home about him misbehaving. I gave him a long lecture last night when I found the note and reminded him this morning when I dropped him off to NOT get in trouble again or there would be hell to pay (yes I did actually slip and use the word hell.. which he corrected me on, but I ensured him it was ok to use it in this context and that the rules of not saying "hell" didn't apply to me). So of course today he would have to get in trouble again only this time he even got "written up"! This is the first time we've had that happen. I felt the need to get creative with punishment. Of course I started with a lecture... this time I took the guilt route since evidently yesterday's "mean mommy" lecture held no long term effect. Success.. I made a breakthrough when the eyes began to water.. then I followed up with lots of love. When he got over his 5 minute emotional moment he was told "no toys, no tv, nothing fun! you're going to do your homework and when you finish... you're going to write lines!" 25 lines of "I will obey" (its a short line.. I'm not that mean). It was great because after each line he wrote he counted how many he had left.. punishment with a learning twist. I like it. We'll see how well that worked.. if he comes home with red pen notes tomorrow I might have a breakdown.

Shaylin only had 1 meltdown today, which is a huge improvement. Its always something unpredictable with her. You never know when that cute little girl is going to bust out her psychotic monster personality. The magic is in the "later". I read somewhere that parents use the word "no" more than any other word but for me I think its "later". Its a much safer word. "can I get a new toy?"... "later".. "can you read this 35 page long dora book?"... "later"... "can I have a cookie"... you get the drill. Even now when I say no this is how the conversation goes:
"mommy, can I have some candy"
"no"
"later?"
"no"
"after later?"
"no"
"monday?"
"no!"
then the meltdown. I should have ended it with the first later.