Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Me and Time Out...are like this!


Just added my post to Cammie's Kids Say What Carnival.


In this house...I use my husband as the threat to get my kid that turns into some out of control 28 pounds of madness to "cool it".

In this house...The Rambler is usually on the brink of tiredness from the paying job and the non paying job (parenting) that it seems my child knows how to 'work me' over.

In this house...my husband usually wears the pants of discipline.

In this house...Lil Rambler comes to me for comforting.

But something happened the other day that tilted our normal Rambler world. That shifted my husband's cosmic hold on Lil Ramblers way of disciplinary life.

Me and Lil Rambler (yah, yah...I should of said Lil Rambler and I...) had a timeout. And I thought for sure she would be the victor of the 'game'.

But I was persistent. I kept plopping back the angry little imp in her timeout seat.

The TV went off.

Toys were taken out of her reach.

Her juice was put in the refrigerator...(her one chance of trying to escape).

And we had ourselves a standoff.

Evil stares were thrown my way. I did not waver.

Runny nose was snotted my way. I did not falter.

I asked of her one thing. To say she was sorry. And I asked nicely.

While she temper tantrum-ly refused.

I have to say that I kept my cool, for once. My brick wall of "I am the parent, you are the child" was strong. Supernanny would have been proud.

She cried. I almost buckled. She knows my kryptonite.

But I said almost. Because I gently asked again if she was sorry.

And her little arms flailed and her legs kicked with venom. And her tears turned to an angry sea of terror.

Touche little one, you almost had mommy there.

Timeout sat next to me and said to keep it up. She won't stop loving you because of this. She won't hate you and start packing her toddler suitcase to look for a better mother. She will always love you and she needs this.

Then a half hour (that felt like infinity...since it was me and her in our stare down of the century) came and she had had enough.

With only drama that could come from my side of the family, she whimpered....

"You win Mama...you are the champion...you are the light..."

WHAT? That coulda happened....Alright, alright....she didn't say THAT. (giggle.)

"Immmmm....ssoooorraaaahhhyyy.....Mammmaaammm"

I held out my arms and our life went resumed back to normal. (If Timeout were a real living person we'd be high fiving like a bunch of crazee's)

Well, not exactly. When I said that our world changed a little. It did. Because that night, while out to dinner, Lil Rambler acted up and USUALLY daddy just has to look at her. And it didn't work. He said something. That didn't work. She put out a little more attitude than she usually does with her father. And it got to him.

But then all I said was "Timeout?" and the Lil Rambler knew who was boss in this house!

10 zillion for Lil Rambler.....11 zillion for Daddy Rambler....and finally...TWO for the Rambler.

37 ramblings of your own:

Cammie said...

the female toddler is an evil creature indeed

Mrs4444 said...

This is terrrific. We've all been there. I love the way you created a clear, loud, and painful picture in my mind :)

I want to thank you for coming to my blog today-my reader is crammed to overflowing, and the squeeky wheels are getting the grease. You are a treasure, and I enjoyed popping in.

Pseudo said...

Good excercising of your parental duties. It's like aerobics training for the teen years, which at this point I am wondering if I will survive intact...

Fiauna said...

Way to go, Rambler! You rock!!!

Furry Bottoms said...

YES! You did it! Oh those kids... they know how to wring your heart. But you stood stock still for it. Congratulations! Just be very glad that Lil Rambler was not me. *I* would have won. I'll make a post of it soon! :)

Saskia said...

Oh your little rascal Rambler's determination and pluck is not so good for you now, but will do her good when she's grown!

Saskia xx

Shorty said...

Kudos to you, my friend! Stick with it and you won't regret it. I had to be extra tough with my little guy until he was about five, and now he minds really well almost all of the time. Granted, he likes to try and debate me from time to time, but tantrums and craziness we do not have. He's 11 years old now. I'll get back with you as the teen years approach. I may not be able to brag after that.

jmt said...

Way to GO woman! :) I WISH I were the comforter in my home...but Hubs is just too much fun and I'm too anal to NOT clean. That means I spend time doing what needs to be done and he gets to be the guy who does what wants to be done. These roles are so silly, aren't they? Living, parenting, marrying....it's all a big mess until finally...it gets figured out. Weird. I'll virtually high five you, though, in place of Timeout. ^5

Life of a Stepmama said...

I completely understand the evil genius of a toddler, so glad you stood your ground!! not easy for sure......

Unknown said...

Good for you! I'm a big Timeout fan. I gave Jacob two almost back to back timeouts Sunday. It always calms them down.

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

Well done! It's hard to do (that consistency/stick to your guns thing) Grant and I once had a 6.5 hour stand-off because he wouldn't ask to get down from his highchair. (That's not a typo... six and a half hours...) The ONLY reason I won is because he fell asleep.

MammaDucky said...

Awesome!
I wear both hats...er pants. I can be the disciplinarian and the comfort zone. Mostly that's cuz The Dude sucks at both. Boo-yah! I said it!!!

Amy McMean said...

WOW way to go holding strong.

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

What a fantastic post! My son actually stared me down for 30 minutes in a timeout battle of the wills!

Love this post!

OliveStreetStudio said...

After a day of back-to-back meetings, how happy was I to get home to a tired "Lil Olive", put her to bed, grab a glass of vino and check out the blogs I've missed. Your entry was awesome! I kept picturing your Lil Rambler with the adorable picture, pulling the temper tantrum and I couldn't help but smile and laugh at the story. Especially the part where she finally abdicates and you go on as nothing ever happened. That is the best. :-)

Kathy B! said...

Score one for the grown-up team! If we all band together we may win... never!

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Wow, I hear the evil toddler from girls melts sheet metal. Glad you're okay.

Liz Mays said...

Thank you for being one of the parents who doesn't give in! People don't understand how much better off they'll be when they don't cave. Great job, momma! The light of your greatness shines forth.

ClaireMontgomeryMD said...

"You win Mama...you are the champion...you are the light..."

. . . seriously - you won! award at my site. not nearly as special as winning the stare down, but requires much less crying.

theUngourmet said...

Way to go mom! I would have buckled!

Housewife Savant said...

Yea, but your points are like yen; worth skillions.

Shan said...

Woohoo for Mommy Power!! And two! Two is not nothing. Not NONE. It's enough to tango... okay, I don't know where I'm going with that. I'll just add that I read this with my 15 month old on my lap. At first she and shared a good laugh together. Then she looked at me and apparently saw something glinting in my eyes. She has fled the room. Muahahahaha!

Brittany said...

I love it!
I wish more parents would practice time-out. (Easy for me to say... I have not been blessed with a strong willed toddler yet.)

I am proud of you, Mama Rambler!!! :)

lagirl/sweet tea said...

I'm always good until they cry so hard they start to turn blue - that's when I buckle...Good job!!

Crazee Juls said...

YAY For you!! :) Hannah Grace and I had some of the same timeout show downs when she was a toddler... Oh my...those were the days (that I'm glad are over) Who says being stubborn like your mom is a good thing??? Thanks for the shout out :)

The Chrysanthemum said...

Ohhhh....I have a feeling i'll be where you were this week in a few months...We don't call him "Chase Monster" for nothin'...

Anonymous said...

Whoo hoo!

Housewife Savant said...

You were above me in SITS roll call. Thank God.

I see you've committed to getting back in the SITS groove.
Does that mean visiting the blog before you?

Didja ever find it really boring, or badly written and have to S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E to comment? OMG.

How about SITSters who come over to fulfill their duty and after a hysterical or heart-wrenching post they comment, "Hi. Over from SITS. Visit me at brainlessdimwit.blogspot.com"?

I love SITS, don't get me wrong, but c'mon; read the post. Comment relevantly.

Okay, that was my morning piss. Thanks for listening.

Add one point for The Rambler being a friend.

Anti-Supermom said...

Way to hold your stance! What a funny post, make me a little giddy that I don't have girls though :)

Controlling My Chaos said...

I love the time out chair in our house. It demands respect. And it's cute too. Extra bonus.

Controlling My Chaos said...

I love the time out chair in our house. It demands respect. And it's cute too. Extra bonus.

Mrs. M said...

Good job, mom. :-)

Unknown said...

Nicely done. Our threat was getting our mouth washed out with soap, which trust me, was not something I did after the first time :)

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