Metal Meredith

Vivienne had a giant fit the other day about a Build A Bear. I think those things were put on this earth to made us miserable. She had a birthday party for a classmate this weekend. She talked for days ahead of time about which animal she would pick and what kind of outfit she would get. I had the task of explaining to her that at a party, she was able to pick from just a few animals and might not get exactly what she wanted.

After seeing her head spin a 360, she threw herself on the carpet and proclaimed “This is going to be the worst birthday party ever!”. With that one phrase, we were in battle.

Phil and I had a good hour long conversation, more like a meeting of the minds. It was full of brainstorms and a lot of “if....then” sentences. We opened up our discipline techniques and examined them. We tossed what wasn’t working (almost everything) and discussed why we thought they failed. We revisited past punishments and took a little time to dissect what really got Vivienne and what she just blows off.

When we were done, there essentially was a new sheriff in town. Not only has discipline received a make-over, but Christmas has, too. We took a pile of gifts that we deemed frivolous and marched Vivienne to the Angel Tree. We picked out a lovely four year old girl and gave her many Littlest Pet Shop sets and toys. I hope her Christmas is wonderful now and that truly appreciates what she gets.

Vivienne won’t get switched and coal, but her pile has dwindled considerably. Throw in that Henry found his big toy a week ago (a ride on dump truck), this Christmas will be less about blowing minds and more about appreciation. I hope Phil knows that I have been extra good, too!

My kids.

Vivienne’s school had a Veteran’s Day assembly on Tuesday and the local news came to do a story about it. The real story was about how they did a candy for soldiers drive where kids brought in their non-chocolate halloween candy and donated it to be sent overseas. Vivienne got in on the action, too.

I Tivo’d the newscast so that Vivienne could see it. She really didn’t care all that much. I think that seeing herself online and on home videos on the TV has ruined the magic of being on the small screen. My poor child, she will never be happy unless she is on the ‘big screen’.

Vivienne spotted herself right away. I looked and looked but did not see her until she pointed to herself. Then Phil and I both laughed for a good 5 minutes. Not only is she looking straight at the camera, she is the only one not singing and talking to someone instead. She looks confused and a little off. That’s my girl!

She arrives at about minute 1:17.

Vivienne came home from school today, had a snack and settled in to watch some Tom and Jerry. The conversation went like this:

“Vivienne, I am going upstairs to go to the bathroom. There is no toilet paper downstairs so I will bring some when I come back down.”

As she stares at the TV, I ask her twice if she hears me and get a hurried and distracted “yes” both times. Finally, I make her repeat what I just said. Then, I go upstairs. No sooner does my backside hit the toilet as I hear faint footsteps across the house and a door close. I wait a few seconds, take a deep breath and hear “MOM!”

I finish my own business, calmly walk downstairs and take another deep breath. I knock on the bathroom door and am told to come in.

“Mom! There is no toilet paper down here!” she tells me, exasperated.

“Vivienne, I told you I was bringing some down because there wasn’t any in here.”

“No, you didn’t.”

And that was when I tossed a roll of toilet paper on her lap, turned and left the room.