FINALLY! Bedtime. The time of day all stressed out mothers dream about...or so I've heard. We got away this afternoon with only a few hits and one busted lip. Of course, my wonderfully smart mouthed son gave me more of a headache than the hitting and busted lip. And, before I get tons of helpful tips from all the wonderful readers that I hope to have, thank you, but I've tried everything and even some made up stuff for disciplining my children. I haven't given up the good fight yet, but sometimes I want to.
Somehow, Hayden, my four year old, hit Conner, my two year old, in the mouth with a magna doodle thing. Don't ask me how it was done, they were playing quietly in their room and then WAM! the screaming started. The baby runs to me screaming that he got hit. Blood wasn't gushing so I told him he was fine and to go away...I mean play. Hayden is screaming that he didn't do it, but the suspicious sound of the whack and then the doodle smacking the floor, as he's yelling this at me, somehow told me he was lying. I try not to yell, although, sometimes I do a lot of it (I am only human), so I took a deep cleansing breath and told him to just be careful and no more hitting. When in actuality I yelled at him to stop being mean and no more hitting or he was going to get spanked. (I also don't want to hear how horrible it is that I spank my kids. My parents spanked me and I'm a good person, not socially deficient, abusive, suicidal, or homicidal.) I don't even know why I bother with the threat of spanking anymore because the last time I actually spanked him and not his dad, he laughed at me and said, "That didn't hurt." See what I mean about the smart mouth?
When the constant screaming, running, and general not minding commences, I have developed a mantra. I fell that it works to help center me. Well, at least it keeps me from going totally off my rocker and getting calmer before I act. It's goes a little something like this; I love my kids, I love my kids, I love my kids.
Of course the whole night wasn't horrible. I love my kids. After they bounced off the walls for a few hours, we did somersaults on the living room floor and then played with the dog. I tried to show them how to do back rolls but they just told me it hurt their chin and gave me these you're-a-horrible-mother looks. So that was enough of that. I also did their nails. Nooo. I didn't paint them or anything, but my boys, for some odd reason, love it when I trim and clean their nails. They always have and I hope it stays that way because I enjoy doing it.
Anyway, so, miracle of all miracles, I just put them in bed thirty minutes ago and for the first time in over a week they haven't gotten up five times already wanting odds and ends such as drinks and something they call hugs and kisses. I'm not sure what that really is seeing as how I put my lips to big slimy drool-y things they call their lips. Of course, in the spirit of being a good mommy and not wanting to hurt their feelings, I never wipe my mouth until they have their backs to me or are in another room. Although, that is sometimes hard because Conner drools a lot and it will be running down your chin after one of his tiny pecks on the lips.
Now, since they are in bed, I'm going to try to relax. My husband is going to rub my shoulders, I'm going to get a good book, and enjoy the silence that only accompanies bedtime.
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