Good Boys Part II

I think I'm in the Twilight Zone. This must be my "Bizarro" life, where everything that I know as normal is flipped completely around. When the boys came home from school today, Colby hung up his coat, snowpants and boots. He immediately packed his backpack for our trip tomorrow. When I told him he could pick out some videos to watch on the drive to Green Bay, he said "No thanks, Mom. What I'd really like to do is some chores. Do you have any chores for me?"

"Well," says I, "You could clean up your room, I guess."
"YES!" And he starts doing a little dance up the stairs while flexing his muscles and singing "Clean Up POWER!"

Who are you, and what did you do with my son?????

ADDENDUM: Stop it. Just stop it. Colby came downstairs after cleaning his room and said "Mom, is it okay if I clean the basement?" I think I've found the magic formula for well-behaving children. Take them to Disneyworld about every other week or so.

My Good Boys

The boys have been a roll with good behavior lately. It is SO NICE. I don't know if it's the sunny weather, the lack of TV, the fish oil, or general maturation. I just know I LIKE IT. We've gotten through several weeks at church with (comparatively) calm children, got a compliment about their behavior from the Sunday school teacher, and both boys have been volunteering for chores at home! Fighting is WAYYY down as well. Today I got an email from their kindergarten teacher ... not about stealing toys or hitting other children.... not about lying or wiggling too much.... not about their pants falling down, or "wandering" down the hallway....well, here's her own words:

"I just have to tell you that things have been going very well for them here lately. I really love working with them. Both of them have so much to offer and get so excited to learn new things. I love it! I'm really enjoying them."

Oh blessed moment, when a mom gets positive feedback!!!

Lent

The boys have given up T.V. on weekdays for Lent. And all candy. If I was a good mother to begin with, this would already have been our M.O., but... it is what it is. So far, it's going GREAT. I'm astounded. They haven't complained about the lack of TV so far this week, as I just say "remember, you gave it up for Lent?" when they ask. Instead we've been playing games as a family in the evening, or dancing in the living room to Pandora. So here it is, now the weekend, and instead of getting up and immediately going downstairs to watch cartoons, the boys decided to read their Hot Wheel books, and then build the tracks in the illustrations. Haven't even ASKED for cartoons once. Playing productively, constructively. Holy Cow. And the grumpiness factor has decreased considerably, I think. Cartoons always make them crabby for some reason!

As a side note, Quinn DID ask to eat some candy this past week. When I reminded him that he gave it up until Easter he said "I don't remember agreeing to CANDY. TV, yes. Not candy. I didn't say that. YOU said that. Oh, all right. As long as I still get to eat Pop Tarts."

Parental Wisdom

Out of the blue, at dinner tonight....
Quinn: "Mom, you don't know everything."
Dad: "Oh, she think she does."
Mom: "I know a whole lot."
Quinn: "You don't know what jellyfish eat."
Mom: "Uhhhhhhhhhh..... I guess you're right. But I can find out!"

Thank goodness for Google. For the record, Jellyfish are carnivores, who eat small fish, fish eggs, and zooplankton.

Modesty

I was changing my clothes after church, when Colby burst into my bedroom.

Mom: "Colby! I don't have clothes on!"
Colby: "It's okay mom. I won't laugh at you."

Gee, thanks. That's NOT what I was worried about.

The Last of The Jam

The boys' breakfast this morning used up the last of Grandma Fran's Huckleberry Jam. Our last of it ever. I couldn't help myself. I started to cry.

Rob: "Oh no. Boys, your mom needs a hug."
Quinn: "Why's she crying?"
Rob: "The jam's all gone."
Colby: "It's okay. We'll go to the store and buy more."
Mom: "It's not the same. This is Grandma's jam."
Quinn: "We'll have Grandma Fran come down from Heaven and make us more jam"
Mom: "It doesn't work that way, Quinn."
Colby: "I know, Mom. We'll buy more huckleberries and make our OWN jam. Like Grandma."
I had to smile. What a sweet, wonderful idea.
Mom: "Yes. That's perfect. Let's do that."

One Last Chance

Driving in the car last night....

Quinn: "Mom, why do you not drive fast?"
Mom: "Speeding is against the law. A policeman would give me a ticket. Remember when Daddy got a ticket for speeding on the way to Ski Tigers?"
Quinn: "Well, if they stopped you, they would just give you one more chance."
Mom: "No they wouldn't. They'd give me a ticket, and I would have to pay them lots of money."
Quinn: "WHY wouldn't they give you one more chance?'
Mom: "Because I already know the rules, and I should be following them."
Quinn: "But everyone gets one last chance!"
Mom: "Nope. One time. The first time."

Not everyone gets a "I'm counting to one....two....three..." before punishment ensues. Maybe I'm not preparing them for life, giving them "one last chance" to obey.