I'm a GOOD parent gosh darnit!

WARNING: Long post, but it's worth it...

Just when I think Porter has done it all he comes up with a day like last Thursday, blowing me away.

This morning I was running late and Sierra was going to miss the bus. Porter was watching the Disney Channel so I told him to stay here and I was going to be right back.

Well, I made two mistakes.

First - I left Porter at home by himself (even though I was going to be gone for like 3 minutes – and I was only going to the bus stop around the corner)

Second - I got too chatty with my “bus-stop mom” friend Nila.

Well – after about 15 minutes (oops) we realized we were being too chatty and she walked me home.

On the way to my house we passed a police car in the street and a couple of neighbors

My heart began to get really nervous.

There was a police man outside my house with Porter. Apparently, Porter didn’t hear me when I said I was going to the bus-stop, he got worried, went outside crying in the street, “Where’s my Mommy and Daddy?” a neighbor came out, (one I don’t know – they are new) didn’t know who he was, called the cops, the cops got there lickety-split (since there are a million cops in Marana there is never one very far away), and I get busted for being too chatty at the bus-stop.

I felt humiliated and like the worst parent in the world. I thought it was only going to be like 2 minutes and besides I was just around the corner at the bus-stop – why do I feel so stinking guilty?

Am I just way too laid back of a parent or did I really screw up?? – maybe a little of each

I’m sorry people I’m sorry!

But the police man was very understanding when I told him what happened

So I decided I’d better give Porter extra good Mommy attention, so he wouldn’t ever think that I would run away from him again.

We went exploring together in the desert with Ella and I let him lead the way – we went where ever he wanted to go on the trails beside our house. Ahhhh- I felt like a good mom again.

Then I get a call from the school nurse that Sierra is not feeling well – I’m very suspicious the girl is playing hooky, but I end up bringing her home anyway.

Now, I have to run errands……

The fabric store……..

THE worst place to have to run errands with 3 little kids by yourself.

Porter is saying he deserves a treat for being so good. I’m tired of him saying this every time we go into a store, and I rebel – “no more treats!” I don’t care if you’re an angel.

I’m tired of my kids expecting they need a treat or some sort of reward every time they do something good.

Here I am trying to be a “good parent” – no spankings, no yelling, let’s do “positive reinforcement” Now I’m starting to believe this strategy is backfiring a little and creating spoiled children – what gives????

So after I tell him he can’t have a treat because he HASN’T been very good (he had been climbing on the fabric displays) he throws a fit in the store.

“Ok – keep cool – you’re a good parent,” I say to myself. Then I proceed to tell him in a calm voice why he cannot have a treat, all the while hoping that the store clerk will think what a wonderful, patient mother I am to this cute but energetic little boy.

Now I’m thinking “Why should I even give a rat’s behind about the store clerk’s opinion of my parenting techniques.” I mean really – does it matter what she thinks?

Maybe this stemmed from the whole “Cops coming to my house” thing this morning and I am determined to prove to the world that I AM a good parent!

Then after buying my piece of fabric I am on my way out the store when Sierra tells me “Mom Porter has some candy in his pocket!”

Sheesh Kid!!!!!!! Can you cause me to feel anymore like a criminal today? I quickly return the candy to its wrong spot in the store (guilt) and leave the store feeling very self-conscious.

Aggghh!

We get home and he is in his room and Ella is playing in there also.

Minutes later I hear Ella crying and Sierra comes out to let me know that Porter is pouring water on Ella’s head.

I enter, and cute innocent Ella’s head is soaked and I find one end of a rope tethered around her neck and the other end tethered around his bed post.

“Porter, it’s dangerous to wrap anything around someone’s neck, even if you are pretending they are a dog.”

Let’s just say – the early bedtime was a welcome consequence for Mommy.

And I have decided I’m not going to wait 10 years to laugh about today – I’m going to laugh hysterically… right now. Ha Ha Ha Ha Hee Hee Hee Ha Ha Hee.