Saturday, November 11, 2006

Time Out: Pre-Laurel

I'm in the kitchen making dinner. Ian walks in, looks up at me and sincerely states, "Mommy, time out."

"Do you need to go to time out?"

"Mommy, time out two minutes."

Confused, I squat down and ask, "Why do you need to go to time out?"

Solemn look on his face, he explains, "I touch DVDs."

I don't know if he actually touched the off limit items, I was too busy chopping onions to notice. But I figure if he's willing to admit guilt, then in all fairness, I need to follow through with our established rules and consequences. Matter of factly I remind him, "Ian, you are not allowed to touch the DVDs, time out two minutes."

I place him in time out, set the timer for two minutes and continue making dinner. He accepts his consequence without tears or shrill screams. Two minutes seems like an eternity when you just want to pick up your child and give him a bear hug. I'm so proud of him for doling out consequences to himself. It shouldn't be too long and he'll avoid touching the ever tempting DVD cases altogether.

Beep...beep...beep.

His sweet little voice sings out, "All done."

I walk over to him, bend down to look him in the eye and say, "You are in time out for touching the DVDs. Do not touch the DVDs. Say, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Mommy."

I pick him up and give and receive a huge hug. A quick peck on the cheek and he's off to play, to cause more mischief, to test the waters.

5 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Too sweet!

Lady M said...

LOL! I am so incredibly impressed. It's hard enough for adults to own up to their naughtiness.

beth said...

This is so amazingly sweet. What a wonderful, honest child you have. Someone must be doing a good job over there:)

Anonymous said...

Oh, I looooove those moments - when the planets align and my child suddenly realizes that I'm really NOT the evil with of the west; and that all that I try to teach him really IS in his best interest. And, even better, are the hugs that follow to humble me in believing that all of my hard work is truly starting to pay off....and then that five-minute moment in my crazy life disappears for another full moon.

Good for you, Mamacita!

Chicky Chicky Baby said...

That was the cutest story.

All done!