A post from the archives:
Last night my boys asked me if they could go to a school function. One for which they would also get extra credit for attending. My answer? “Drive safe.”
The function wasn’t until 7:00pm so when I got home from work I made dinner and small talk. I asked the boys what time they were going to leave. From one I got a shrug and the other one (the driver) a n”I dunno.” (By the way, he’s already mad at me for something I did the day before. Like breathe.)
I figured I would try again at the dinner table. “So, what time are you guys leaving?” Again, no answer. I don’t really deal well with no answer so I pulled Super Nanny out of my back pocket and said “I guess if you guys can’t tell me when you’re leaving then you won’t be going?” (Consequence; you know like the time-out chair.) The non-driver quickly chimed in that they would be leaving at 6:45. Well done, son, well done.
The driver, the mad one, still didn’t answer.
At 6:30 I asked the non-driver if he still wanted to go since the driver wasn’t going. He said he did. The driver squirmed. In silence. I told the non-driver that he could only go if his grandma could come over and take him or watch Jonesie while I took him.
Lo and behold, a grumble came from the driver. “WHAT?” I said. “OKAY, I’LL GO” he said. I said, “what time will you be leaving?” Know what he said?
“6:45.” Know why he answered? He knows that I mean what I say – Read this very entertaining discipline post. And this one about discipline.
And guess who was talking to me tonight? Who was laughing with me? And then angry with me again? The mad one. : )
You wanna play mad, grumbly, non-speaking teenage games? Bring it on!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t like grumbly, silent teens. I have one… it sucks.
Love it. You handle that well, I wish you were around when my now 19 year old was younger and I needed some direction. Kudos to all mom’s handling teenage kids.