Book Trouble

Friday Brantley asked me for a book. He wanted Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. I didn't ask why but said we could look for it. I had a B&N gift card so we went to look around Saturday. They had the book, but Brantley said it had the wrong cover. What do you mean it has the wrong cover - me thinking about the old saying don't judge a book by it's cover. Brantley seemed upset but would not tell me why we couldn't buy this book. We left the book store without said book. So, Sunday Brantley copped up to what happened. They have a book club in his class and he had a copy of that particular book. Somehow the cover got ripped off the book, no doubt it happened while he hurriedly yanked it out of his desk at school. He was so worried about it and just wanted to get a replacement. I explained to him that all he needed to do was let Ms. B. know what happened and give her the replacement book. It wouldn't matter that the cover was different. So Lawson and Brantley went out Sunday to pick up the book. Brantley insisted that I go in with him when he gave the book to his teacher. I really don't know why he was so worried about it. He showed her the torn book and told her he bought a replacement. She thanked him for the replacement and told him that was perfect. He had a problem and he solved it. She asked where the cover was for the original book and told him she could probably fix it (what I also told him I would do) if he had it. He was very relieved. When I picked him up today I asked if he found the cover and he happily said yes. Problem solved.

How do you (or would you for those without kids) punish?

I'm taking a poll. What is your, I don't want to say favorite so let's just say most effective, punishment? I rarely ever spank Brantley, because to be honest he just laughs at me when I do. I am not against spanking, but it's just not effective for me. Taking things away has always been the most effective thing for me. The problem is that you have to be careful with what you take away and you have to make sure that you follow up. Generally, it's TV privileges. But, taking away TV also means that I have to be the entertainer a lot more than usual. This is probably where a sibling would come in handy. Anyway, last night was a bad night at our house. Brantley wasn't listening and was misbehaving. So, I made a bad decision on what to take away. I put him to bed and he wanted me to lay down with him. I told him that he didn't get the things he wanted when he misbehaved the way he did. In hindsight, it was a bad choice on my part but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Thus ensued the 'tantrum' of a life time. Since I already said I wouldn't lay down with him I couldn't go back on it. All he wanted was for me to lay down for a minute, but if I gave in that would compromise my authority (have to follow through with what you say). He got up multiple times after that, each time with a struggle back to bed. Tonight was a much better night, but he gets to watch no TV until Friday and the TV is gone from his room. I'm not sure when that will go back. And, in the absence of TV I taught Brantley to multiple 2 and 3 digit numbers. They are just now working on the tables in class, but it seemed like a good time to teach him. He was receptive and even thought it was cool, especially when I showed him some long division and the relationship between the two.

School year off to a great start....

Today was the first full day of school. I opened the front part of Brantley's back pack and it was wet. Why would it be wet? Nothing else was in the front part. Then I opened the back part and pulled out his daily folder, his brand new planner to keep track of his assignments, and a water bottle that wasn't completely closed. His project folder was ruined, but that's okay because I can get a new one - it's just a manila folder. His planner was soaked on the bottom. The planner was given to him at school. I went online and it seems I can't order one or get one anywhere. I emailed his teacher hoping the school has an extra we can buy. Then, I spent 45 minutes with a hair dryer drying the pages. Now, the pages are are crinkled at the bottom and won't lay flat. That's what happens when books get wet I told Brantley. He's devastated. He took it to his room and piled as many things as he could think on top of it to try to flatten it. Hopefully, he has learned his lesson (and we can get a new one!).

More about Discipline

Last week, I threatened Brantley that if he did not start behaving, I would put him on the list of kids that had to stay back and didn't get to go on the field trip. He didn't believe me that there was such a list, so when I dropped him off, I showed it to him. There are various reasons why kids would be on the list, but Brantley's reason is punishment! The girl at the desk was wondering what I was doing so I explained. I told him sometimes I just don't know what else to take away and not getting to go on a field trip would be good motivation. Of course like everyone else, she was surprised to hear that Brantley even has a behavior problem. At least I feel pretty sure that he behaves for everyone else.

So, this morning after I asked him three times to get up and get dressed, and Lawson went back there to try to get him dressed and he still didn't, I pulled the card. He wouldn't cooperate, wouldn't get dressed, threw a fit about brushing his teeth and putting on suntan lotion. I gave him so many chances and warned him that he would not go swimming. Finally, I had to do it. I told Lawson to put Brantley on the list when he dropped him off. Brantley started crying and was so upset. I left for work because I was already running late. Lawson called me after he dropped Brant off and wasn't happy about having to be the bad guy. He said Brantley went back and sat down and cried.

I felt really bad when I got to work. I kept thinking about calling and telling them he could go swimming, but I didn't. About 11 I got a call. They were confused because Brantley had on his swim trunks and had his towel. The girl that called was the one that I had talked to last week and she said she figured that was what happened. I told her he could go. It had ruined his morning and I felt like he had to have learned his lesson.

He didn't say anything about it when I picked him up. When Lawson asked him about it, he lied and said he didn't go swimming. What was he thinking!! First off, even if I didn't already know, his towel was wet and a dead give away which I pointed out to him. We had to have a long talk about it. Hopefully, he understands. If not, no field trip Thursday. We'll see what happens

Discipline

I admit it. I'm extremely over-protective when it comes to Brantley. I'm trying to do better. Brantley has made friends with the 8 year old from across the street. He's a nice kid, but neither one of them seeme to have any sense of what it means to play safe outside. I had to keep reminding Brantley not to play in the street and to look both ways when crossing. Then, Brantley wanted his friend to stay for dinner. I said I hadn't been to the store and we didn't have much but I could make them some mac'n cheese. They both wanted it so I started making it. Then they took off. The mac was ready and I called several times for Brantley and he did not come. I knew he was probably in another friends yard but he didn't tell me he was going anywhere. So, I went to retrieve him. I brought him home and told him that I called several times and he didn't hear me. If he can't hear me, he has gone to far and he had better be telling me where he's going if he does that. He was very upset, but I felt the need to be stern. If I'm not, the next thing I know he'll be in the next neighborhood without telling me. He went to see if his friend still wanted to have mac'n cheese and it sounded like his friend didn't talk to him which made him more upset. I hope his friend wasn't upset. At any rate, I have set the rules and Brantley knows if he can't follow them, then he can't play outside with his friends.

How to get ink off of leather....

Brantley decided to take a ball point pen and scribble on my leather couch. Now, if the couch were new, I might have freaked out. But hey, the couch is 8 years old and is showing it's age a bit. So, I wasn't too mad. But, how do you get ink off of leather. Well, I tried several thing that didn't even touch it. Then, I decided to try Mr. Clean's magic eraser. It worked! Amazing. I can not believe it worked. I talked to Ben's mom about it and she said that Chase had taken a Sharpie to her hardwood floor and she used an eraser on it and it worked there too. Highly recommended. I don't know how that thing works, but I'm going to stock up!

I got in trouble...

One thing I know is that you have to pick your battles. So, there are things that I am really strict about, and others that I'm not. One thing I'm really strict about is being buckled up the the car. Brantley knows that he gets in the car, gets buckled up, and stays buckled up until the car is parked and no longer moving. Well, you know I have this habit of unbuckling while I'm parking in the garage - it's the multi-tasker in me. Today, I unbuckled while parking and Brantley called me on it. He said "Mommy (in a stern 5 year old voice), you took your seat belt off before we were parked." What do you say to that. "Yes, Brantley, you are right. It won't happen again." :)

Trouble

Brantley got in trouble today on the field trip. At the beginning of summer camp we were told that if any of the children could not behave on the trips, they would not be allowed to go. Well, Brantley wasn't listening today so he does not get to go on the next field trip. At least it's just one he can't go on. And, it's just as well because the next field trip is bowling, and we all know what happened the last time we went bowling. I was hoping that he would tell me about it without me having to ask about it but he didn't. He just asked me if I was mad at him. I said no, why would I be mad at him and he said I don't know. He even lied to me when I asked about it. He said the field trip was fine. I asked if he got in trouble on the field trip and he said no. After some more prodding, he admitted what happened and was very upset about it. Punishment: no bowling field trip next week and no TV tonight. I'm thinking I should have done a bit more though.