I made my first $2 today. Yep --- I am on my way to financial abundance! Son #2 left his socks in the game room ... 2 of them (what some might call -- a pair). So I picked up the offending items and took them to him and said, "Son #2, give me $2."
Here is what occurred after those fateful words:
Son #2: "What?"
Me: "Give me $2."
Son #2: "For what?!"
Me: "For these", tossing them to him.
Son #2: "THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!!" (emphasis his)
Me: "It's totally fair. You were warned. You had knowledge of the rule and the price of the violation."
Son #2: "No, you said it was ONE DOLLAR!".
Me: (still speaking very calmly) "No, I said one dollar per sock. Or to be more precise, one dollar per item. That means one dollar per shirt, per shorts, per t-shirt, etc. One dollar per sock. I have it in writing, in my blog, if you'd like to check. You owe me $2."
Son #2: "I don't have $2."
Me: "You're right. You have $4, which I gave you last night when you wanted to change out $4 in quarters." (did he really think he'd get that one past me?! Whatever!)
Son #2: "Well, I don't have it on me."
Me: "So go up to your room and get it."
Son #2: (stomping past me and up the stairs) "This is SO UNFAIR!" (stomp, stomp, stomp -- slam!)
I now have $2! And I've made son $2 miserable (for the moment). SCORE!
If no one hears from me by 9:00 tomorrow morning, please call 9-1-1. I've probably been strangled with a sock!
Oh, and a big shout-out to my commie-fighting, Alaska-loving brother, Michael!! Hi, bro!!! (to everyone else: I don't know who he thinks he's kidding with this "commie" stuff. I mean really, are the Russians crossing over to Alaska by the hordes? The only thing he's fought up there are huge salmon! The man loves to fish almost more than he loves eat tamales! But don't tell him I said that -- he does have a reputation to protect, ya know!).
4 comments:
Well thanks for trying to make me feel better about not being there for the fair! But hey, I'll be home for the 2012 fair so get ready!! And guess what Janine??? I found a new "dealer" for tamales up here after you all left. Do you remember the salsa and guacamole you all ate in our fridge? Well that's made locally at a place called Taco Loco, along with tortillas, both flour and corn. And who knew they made tamales too??? FRESH, DAILY!! Hello fatness!!
And I thought Kathy and i were the only parents who had kids that yelled, "That's so unfair" and then stomped off!!! Do what I do...when they do something stupid, yell "That's not fair" and stomp off into the bathroom, only to come out fully clothed, dripping wet and muttering, "It's just nor fair"!
You have a pantry door issue? We have a basement door problem! If it's not shut then the Saint Bernard goes down when no one is watching and likes to leave us presents, and let me promise you one thing. As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, there will NEVER, and I emphasize NEVER be a "small" present left by a Saint Bernard. He's only 12 weeks old today and he leaves the biggest pile of any dog I've ever owned!!! Anyway, good luck with the pantry door and you two have fun at the fair (but not too much fun dang it!).
Love ya's!
I used this post to explain to my tennis captain (who is having trouble with "the children") that there has to be rules and parenting requires inforcing the consequences. Have a great time at the fair....have a fried twinkie for me !!
I used this post with my tennis captain who is having problems with "the children". I shared with her your post and that there has to be rules and parenting that requires standing your ground with the consequences. Can I give this blog out to people who need it? or do you want to go into business for yourself? You could start a column in the newspaper, Life section of course.
You can give this blog out to whomever you wish! The more the merrier (besides, more people generate more parenting ideas - and I'm always game for more ideas!).
J.
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