Follow Through...

MAN!! Being a parent is hard work. Satisfiying, but hard. (Maybe more of the satisfying part comes later when they are grownups.)

As an educator for more than a decade (gee, it has almost been 1.5 decades), I know how important it is for you to follow through with your words. If you threaten to make a kid lose his break, then you have to be willing to lose yours too. If you are going to make the kid stay after school then you have to be able to also stay, even if it interfers with something more fun. I know that this is also important in parenting. DAMN.

Sometimes it is also easier to know it than it is to do it. Some threats are fun for me. You know, "...or you'll have to go to bed early," or "...you won't get to go to swim lessons," and my favorite, "...then I will get to eat your dessert." ----What?! You don't like to have two desserts?

But what I am realizing is that my mouth is quicker than my thoughts. Although, I can rationalize my way back to convincing myself that the right decision was reached. Here is the deal: James is going through this control phase--gee, can't imagine who he got that from--where he won't eat dinner, but then wants for something later. And my least favorite is that he will not go to bed. (We have eliminated the nap for the most part, so, we know he is tired. Eh, and we can tell he needs his sleep, but gets enough without the nap.)

The boy will get up anywhere from 3 - 9 times a night. The boy stays up later than I want to some nights. Odd thing is, he is wonderful at daycare and during the day. It is like a switch is flipped once dinner is served. Nothing but Bad News Bears. In frustration the other night, I told him that if he kept this up that I would not be taking him to Chicago with me Saturday. He REALLY wants to go but REALLY will not behave, still. Cry, cry, cry, but no change.

This will be the ultimate in follow throughs. Meghan is going to come over this weekend. Spend some time with Dad, and James. She will babysit James Monday while Kevin is working and Emma and I are in Chicago. He will have to learn that he does not rule the roost. Mom and Dad do.

Kevin and I talked about this at great lengths last night. Neither of us thinks that he deserves to go. Maybe "deserves" is a strong word. The reality is that, if he is willing to act like this with the comfort of routine at our house, how will he act with looser reigns at someone elses house? I don't want to find out. And ultimately, Kevin does not want to hear about it when we come. I know that Kevin was looking forward to having the house to himself for 3 days, but...this is part of fatherhood. Besides, now he gets to spend a bit more "quality" time with Meghan. They both deserve that. (huh.)

So...the plan is to go to either the Aquarium or the Children's Museum on Sunday. I suppose that we could ask Emma for her input. I know Joe does not care. Kerri and I would rather do something very cheap (museum), but without James I will have a couple of extra bucks to spend. (I write this with a bit of saddness.) We will head home on Monday. Originally, we were not in a hurry to come home, but now I need to be back so that Kevin can take Meghan home at a decent time. I am not sure if we will get to do any sight seeing Monday or not. Either case, I will send out pictures when we get back.

CHANGE SUBJECT:
I got the official acceptance letter from my insurance today. Of course it did not give dollar amounts or percentages. I called them. The surgery is 100% covered. Hospital fees. Doctor fees. Hospitalization. Lab work. Everything. The only thing I pay for is the office visits. And of course I will be paying for new bras soon. But if you are looking into giving me an early birthday present, a gift card to Victoria's or hell, even Wal-Mart would be fun.

I go in for a labwork and another OV on Tuesday. The nurse said that Doc will probably be taking a bit more than 4 pounds. That will put me under my WW goal weight. HAha. She also mentioned something about a size....oh, you thought I would tell the world? Not yet. Ask me later, I will probably tell you. Hell, if we are close enough, I may even show you?????????? Right.

Speaking of. I was told to take before and after pictures by a friend who lives out of state. Thinking about it. But boobs....on Shutterfly? I might have a better idea. Wallets? I crack myself up. I would bet this is funnier in my head than it is in written word. Oh well. Keep the laughs coming, I say. If I won't crack myself up, who will?