When Behavior Takes A Wrong Turn

"Mooom, he took the Diego cup and I wanted it!" I look over to see two school aged boys fighting over a cup with a picture of a preschool character on it. Seriously? They both despise Diego. So WTFroglegs?

Then I hear a scream from the bedroom, "Mommyyyyyy, he's annoying me!" It's Ella. She is going ape doodoo on Aiden because he refuses to stop looking at her. I was not aware that looking at someone is a crime, unless your doing it while holding a mirror under their skirt in a public place. But that's not the kind of looking we are talking about here. We are talking about across the room glances done just for the purpose of annoying one very irritable little sister. Not a crime, but a disturbance for sure.

Reed is tugging at my leg and whining for his twentieth glass of orange juice. When I refuse his request and offer water, he has a full blown meltdown. Kicking, screaming, hurling insults in my general direction. Two year old children are surprisingly capable of enunciating naughty words, in case you were unaware.

"That's it! I've had it." I yell at the top of my lungs as if anyone cares. I grab the Diego cup and tell the boys that if they love Diego so much ,we will just have to do some redecorating in their room and return their cool skull backpacks for some Diego ones. They quickly retracted their desire for the Diego cup and got a water bottle.

I went into Ella's room and forced her and Aiden to have a staring contest. Nobody was allowed to smile or talk or look away. They had to stare into each other's eyes. After a minute, they could not help but bursting into laughter. I informed them that if they continued to argue that we would be forced to hold a stare-a-thon. Then I gave them permission to take out the Play Doh. Crisis averted.

And what about Reed? He got a sippy cup of water, a rousing rendition of Baa Baa Black Sheep and a kiss goodnight. Tantrums are a sure sign of overstimulation and the need for a nap. Now I can get the dishes done before peace is once again destroyed by the ongoing bouts of sibling rivalry that this house is (literally) famous for. Redirection...it is one of the most useful parenting tools I've ever come upon!