Lessons

Please excuse the long post - this is as much for me as anyone else...

This parenting thing can be really, really hard. Sometimes, it's "I'm so tired, I just can't deal with this today." Other times, it's "this is going to take every ounce of my energy, every ounce of my determination & every ounce of my stick-to-it-ness-or-my-son-is-never-going-to-learn." It's been one of those days.

It started out fine, until I finished my shower & came downstairs to find Noah, emptying an entire container of dog food all over the kitchen floor, his little table & out the patio door. Argh.

Me: "What are you doing, Littles?"
Noah: Quite proud of himself, "Feeding Lucy."

Still proud of his accomplishments, marveling at his mess & not yet realizing what this might mean

At this point, I'm still calm. Granted, he had good intentions. But this throws a wrench into my plans for the day. Wanted to run some errands & hit a few stores before taking Noah to the toy store as promised. Didn't really want to spend time on my hands & knees cleaning up gritty dog food.

I descended the stairs & did my best to engage Noah in the task. He wasn't at all interested, grabbed a toy & went in the other room.

Me: "You made this mess, so you need to come clean it up."
Noah: "You made the mess, you clean it up."

Oh, goodness.

So there I am, sitting in the middle of hundreds of pieces of dog food, making my choice. Go easy: clean it up & get us on our way? Or go tough: enact the lesson, engage in the battle of wills & hopefully emerge on the other side a better mother & son?

I set my jaw & chose to go tough.

The protest commences - he's realized that I'm not going to give in

The ensuing 2 hours included:
- a nice, rational talk
- a stubborn boy dead set against cleaning up
- an even more stubborn mother certain that he would 'finish the job', even if it meant withholding all food, toys & movies for the rest of the day
- a LOT of Noah tears
- even more Noah whining
- a quick break to hug & regain composure
- a little lesson on big-boy breathing techniques (to ease the crying)
- and an enormous amount of coaching: "You can do this." "You made this mess, you need to clean it up." "Keep on going." "It doesn't matter if you don't want to - you need to finish the job."

Frustrated, crying, lying prostrate & trying to avoid picking up the last 6 pieces

And yes - 2 hours later, he finally picked up the last piece and put it back.

Completely exhausted, we ascended the stairs for his nap. We talked again about how necessary it was that he finish what he started, that he help out & clean up after himself. And I made sure he knew how proud of him I was.

I think we both learned a lesson. Not an easy one, that's for sure.

And I think it's time for my nap.