Run while Mommy counts to 10, very slowly

Ever had that moment where you are not quite sure what you are going to do to your child, but know that they are lucky they are not within arm's length.

My adorable, sweet, precious child decided he should push Mommy to that limit while at a Boxing day party on Saturday.  The kids had decided to run and play on the stairs during this not so casual party. 

By play,  I mean slide down all of them on their butt.  By run I mean chase each other around the balcony area while squealing.

I walked halfway up the stairs and told my boys (who happened to be showing off for older kids) to calm down.  My stepmother was downstairs having a fit at all the noise from the children.   I hissed "quit running and sliding, when you do that it echoes through the house"

T1's response: "when you yell at me it echoes"

1...2...3.... breathe....4......5....6...7...8.9.10

creative punishments because who likes the same ol' beatings

We are not getting into spanking today - but for the sake of this post - we are leaving it at spanking is boring. 

Besides if I spanked my kids everytime they fought - my hand would be black and blue.  Instead I choose to make them apologize and hug each other.  If they are having a particularly bad day - I make them stand in the front yard and hug for 2 minutes while the neighbors drive by.  Let's just say it does the trick - for a day or so.

Mama Kat asked us to "Describe the best/most creative punishment you have ever given your children or received yourself."

My punishments weren't very creative growing up, even though I wasn't grounded, my father would just talk to me and I would crumble.  Even today, if he were to take that tone, I'd still lose it.  (somethings you never grow out of)

I'm more of the get creative type.  I'm still working on my "most creative punishment."  So far there have been a couple that have come close.

• scrubbing the kitchen floor with a scrub brush
• cleaning walls with a toothbrush after writing on them (he was six and totally knew better)
• a drop of hot sauce (texas pete which is not hot) for lying

Any ideas on the "most creative" punishment?

When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window. ~Ogden Nash

scared of little ol' me???

Scary Mommy is holding an awesome contest this week.  She wants to know what makes us scary, and the scariest Mom will win a prize!  She defines scary a little differently than most would think:

"I believe a Scary Mommy is a mother who doesn’t leave the house wearing lipstick at all times. A Scary Mommy loves her kids to death, but will admit to feeling totally overwhelmed and exhausted by the gig. A Scary Mommy doesn’t really care what other people think, and a Scary Mommy thinks that all mothers win when we admit our weaknesses. How would you describe it? It’s up to you!"

As Mom's we each have our own definition of scary.  Our kids probably have hundreds examples of how we are scary.  My hubby may say my hair in the morning is pretty scary.  But as I thought about how I was scary, I didn't think I could answer this question.  I didn't think the general idea applied to me - even though I never wear lipstick, love my kids more than life, are willing to go to jail for them, can be gross with the best of them, and admit exhaustion on more than one occasion.  But that's a Mom, that's what we do.  We do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Then I had a realization.  It's not what we think of ourselves, but how other's perceive us.

I am not afraid to scream politely tell children, even those who are not my own, to stop jumping off the top of the picnic table, stop taking the legs out from underneath the little kids on the slip and slide and to stop throwing rocks at cars.  This prompted a Dad nearby to ask "Have you ever been a drill instructor?"  He probably thought I was scary -

And then there was the occasion at my son's birthday/pool party when I had all the dripping wet children line up on the kitchen floor to sing happy birthday instead of on the carpet.  Perfectly sane line of reasoning I thought, until my own son decided he was above everyone else and could stand on the carpet.  I did not get overwhelmed and freak out, instead I politely told him to get off the carpet... as my father in law snapped a picture.
 

 

My husband, brother, and father-in-law all believe this is the proof that I am the Scariest Mommy.  Do you???