Kintropy In Action

Gabriel turns six years old next week, but he is rehearsing for thirteen.

This morning, he woke up to the bleak world of a day without video games and tv.  The previous evening, he had backtalked to Mom, apparently to impress his friends.  I'm only reporting this second hand, but it started with something like "I don't have to listen to you" and ended with "whatever." 

I know.  I know.  If I had ever talked like that to my parents....  Well, maybe not ever talked to my parents like that, but if I had talked like that to my parents when I was five....  Oh, you know what I mean!

Anyway, Gabriel awoke to a carry-over punishment.  He was gloomy.  I called him on it.  His response?  

"Blah.  Blah.  Blah."

That is a quote.  What am I, raising Seinfeld?

Needless to say, he didn't win additional points this morning.  The walk to the bus stop was very quiet.

By the time I got home tonight, though, Gabriel received pretty good marks.  The downtime & thinktime seemed to impress upon him that backtalk (though secretly very amusing to me) would not be tolerated.

And then I caved.  Yes, I gave him back video games.  It had been 24 hours since the Incident, I figured.  Mom was headed out for a break at the movies, and I would be spending more time with Hannah.  On a Friday night, my tank is near empty:  no imaginative play left.

Janette and I discussed it with Gabriel before she left.  We had a lot of caveats and warnings for him, and he did well.  Hannah and I got some downtime, singing, playing, and watching her favorite videos; Gabriel got some downtime playing games.  Seemed like a fair trade.  We'll see if Gabriel can keep it together for a little while - at least until he's a big six year old next week.

-- Dad