Yesterday afternoon went well, but this morning did not. We went and set up in the park next to the pool and relaxed while the kids swam and played in the playground. While they were playing, talking with our friend, we both ended up confessing that we almost had to cancel last minute because of behavioral issues but neither of us wanted to leave the other hanging. It worked out, and the kids seemed to have a good time. As usual, I way overdid it on the food, and we ended up sharing with other random parents and kids – and still have a ton of leftovers.
This morning was a whole different story. I gave the boy his chore – coiling the hose correctly – and he flat out refused saying that’s how he does it, his job was good enough, and he wasn’t going to do it properly. So, I gave him a choice – he could do his chore and we proceed as normal, or he could voluntarily choose being grounded and giving up all tablet, TV, and gaming time, with reading being his only recreational activity. He chose reading, which frankly would not even closely resemble a punishment for my wife nor I (“Oh no, please don’t throw me in to the briar patch!”). I had him repeat back to me what he was choosing, to make sure that he understood exactly what he was giving up over his decision, and he did, stating he was clear about the consequences.
I hopped in the shower to wash off the sweat from the morning gardening, and while I was in, my wife returned from her workout. She went to check on the boy and he spun a sob story, tears and all, about the mean-old “grampap” who grounded him. When I got out of the shower, I told my wife about what went down this morning and she laughed, and she related the tale – apparently the mean old man grounded him because he doesn’t know how to coil a hose, despite showing him repeatedly. Well neither of us were going to let that stand, and we made it clear that telling half-truths trying to gain sympathy is just as deceitful as outright lying, and he had to confess to my wife the whole story – that it was his choice and decision to be grounded because he did not want to do the chore.
So that is where we are at now – I suspect that he’s going to regret his decision soon (especially since tonight is gaming night), but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…
Song of the day: The One by Foo Fighters
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