12/27/2008

How Can I Get Mad?

A few days ago, I heard my kids yelling at each other in the other room.

"What's going on, guys?" I hollered over them as I poked my head in the room.

"Emily hit me!" was Lucas' reply.

"Emily," I said in a disappointed voice. "Why did you hit your brother?"

"Because...I love you." she said with a radiant smile on her face.

I looked at her not knowing how to reply.

"Because I love you SO MUCH!!"
she added to sweeten her case.

It worked. I didn't send her to time out as I usually would have. I just gave her a hug and told her not to hit her brother anymore. How could I punish her with such a cute albeit suck up response?

I hope that I am not helping to create a future Eddie Haskel (the phony friend of Wally's on Leave It To Beaver).

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