It was such an unforgettable moment.
One I had read about many times in books and perhaps even
saw on TV once or twice.
And it got to happen to me. I got to be the courageous
hero.
I kicked my two boys out of the car!
And made them walk all the way home!
With their ski boots on and up a few big hills!!!
It
was amazing.
There they were being so rude and obnoxious and insulting
me about my driving. It seems to be their new pastime in life making fun of me
in a really mean way. Even Bear too who is usually much sweeter.
So I was totally calm most of the way and really calm in
my brain too. Hardly irritated when I got fed up-I parked the car in a driveway
of a cottage far away and looked at them both and said” Get out of my car”
The looks on their faces were priceless. Priceless!
They said they would not get out and I started counting
calmly to ten. I told them that if I reached ten and they were not out that
they would accept the “other” consequence. That seemed to scare them enough.
Bear asked to change boots and I ignored him and peeled away in my (minivan).
Of course they called my husband and when I pulled into
the cottage driveway he gave me a look of “what the hell happened?”. He was on
my side. We were united. He agreed that I may not be the most confident driver,
but I am safe and sweet and good enough. He got brownie points. Jacuzzi tonight
sweetie?
I loved seeing the boys come home down the big hill
stomping their feet. It was like a good scene from a movie. I think they were swearing
and cursing and maybe even threw my ski boots around the garage, but I simply
ignored them.
It was one of the first times in my life I was able to
pull off what the books tell you to do with teens every day. Never let their
reactions to consequence you impose get to you. Don’t lose your power.
So they are still not speaking to me, nor am I to them.
It has given me a chance to get some blogging done, read a good book and relax
a bit. They are studying upstairs still will smoke coming out of their ears.
I figure by 6pm it is time for a hug and an episode on
the couch of Survivor. With a little family cuddle.
I am proud of me. Very very proud. Today for some strange and weird reason I was able to
control my temper and reactions. I did not let them push my buttons. Why
today? Who knows? Probably just coincidence right?
All I know is that this Mama Bear got it right today.
Calm and silence are the most powerful tools we have as parents. I am going to
try my hardest to use these much more often.
