"When I grow up, I am going to live ALONE!!!!!!!!!!"

Last night I went to a parenting talk on Supporting Positive Behavior.  Many of the women there had very young children and babies.  I was the mother present with the oldest children, and I had been in the moms' group the longest.  As I listened to the struggles described and strategies suggested I was struck by the notion that it really does get easier.  The age of reason makes a huge difference in our success as parents.  Children do reach a point where they do what is right because they know it is right.  However, my days are not filled with smooth sailing.  Last night someone was crying in frustration about elementary school homework, and somehow dirty dishes were again left on the table, rather than being cleared and put into the dishwasher.  Patience is my constant prayer.  Over the weekend Henry had a whole day where he felt totally outnumbered by his sisters.  He was not a happy guy, and he acted out with crying and some screaming.  Robbie and I dealt with this by giving Henry some time to cool off alone in his room.  At one point, he articulated his utter frustration amazingly succinctly.  He made the following declaration with a voice that rose in volume and intensity with each word, "When I grow UP, I am going to live ALONE!!!!!!!!!"  His voice thundered.   We ran into Fr. Larry that evening, and he almost fell over he laughed so hard at that story.  He has two older sisters, so he tells Henry that he prays extra for him, having three.

Vivian is in birthday party planning mode.  She suggested a roller skating party, and I told her that when the sisters did that they were older.  I said that I wasn't sure it would go very well for 5 and 6-year-olds to roller skate.  "Oh, we'd have a falling over party?"