Parenting 101

Here I go again with my attempt to blog on a regular basis. So much has happened and so much to catch up on, but for the moment, will focus on today only.

My Thursday morning began with me teaching my 5:30 am class. Great turnout. Lots of my friends from the rec. center came out this morning. It's tough to get moving so early in the morning. But at the end of class, glad it's done and the workout put behind me.

On my way home, I stopped by my mom's to pick up the twins and my daughter. Lucky for me, they were ready for school with the exception of their shoes. They had their football cleats on from the night before.

We get home and the twins are frantically looking for a "white shirt" to wear. They wore their "white polo" yesterday and of course was in the dirty laundry waiting to be washed. They got the dates mixed up and were suppose to wear it today. I was going to make them wear whatever because I thought it was "rehearsal", but apparently they are performing for the entire school today.

Long story somewhat short, Gideon wore his white short sleeved church shirt. Brydan wore a white Aloha shirt. All morning long I kept reminding these two to behave, keep their arms and feet to themselves and leave each other alone. Do you think they listened? Of course not. They are boys. Next thing I hear is Brydan complaining that Gideon ripped the top button of his shirt off.

Here's where my great parenting skills came in. I called both of them into my room. Trying hard not to beat them both up -- told them to take their shirts off. I made Gideon wear Brydan's shirt that he ripped the button off and Brydan wear Gideon's shirt. I then turn to Gideon and say, "you want to stupid and rip the button off his shirt? Guess what, you are going to wear it and look stupid". Normally I would just fix it and find another shirt or fix it, but it was time to go to school and I was pretty irritated with them already.

Gideon being my kid with attitude starts crying. Well, I wasn't having it and not giving in. Told him to hurry up and get his things together because they need to leave for school. The kid threw a fit. He was taking his sweet time like everyone needed to wait on him. I then lost my patience and yelled at him "to hurry up and get going with their dad because I was not taking them to school if he leaves them". You think he hurried? No. Again, dragged his feet and then finally made his way out the door.

I know, my parenting skills need some work. But making them switch shirts was better than me beating them both - right?