Metal Meredith

It isn’t hard.

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!

Sometimes my posts were less than interesting, but I managed to do it.

Now is the fun part of feeling guilty when I don’t update daily. 

Phil and I talked last night about how we just don’t get it. Sadly, we are big consumers, more so than I would like to be. We have lots of electronics and toys and crap all around us. Still, we don’t get the big rush at Thanksgiving.

Seeing news about people running through BEst Buy doorways or laughing and smiling as they peer over a cart full of crap makes us both a little ill. Every year it seems to get worse. This year, there was a death as idiots pushed through the doors at a WalMart, killing one employee. What a way to go. Trampled by bargain hunting consumers at a Wal-Mart. I feel so sorry for that family.

I haven’t been able to process what is going on in India enough to let us get into my head. I am tearing off bits and pieces of it, but Black Friday is much easier to digest.