How did/will you treat your children?

[jelli]

Caleb "played" me...

I had been outside mowing grass (trying to keep my mind off other things)

Caleb needed to work off some money he borrowed through mowing grass.

Got Caleb started, wasn't long before he was in crying/complaining it was hot out, he had a headache, etc etc...

I let him stay in and said after dinner he could finish.

KNOCK! KNOCK! (the neighbor boy)

"Can we jump on your trampoline with the kids?"

Caleb *SPRUNG* up and was ready to go play...

I let him go out with the neighbor boy... (I shouldn't have)

::: stood outside listened to him tell neighbor boy about his head and that maybe he'd just jump a little :::

I called Caleb in and explained I shouldn't have let him go out, if it's to hot to mow its to hot to play.

Caleb and the other boy were instantly asking if they could go to the neighbor's house and play INside.

Again, I let him. Again, I had to call him back after realizing he just got over on me...

Explained that yes it was hot and he could come in as often as he needed to get a drink or whatever but he was going to mow the grass and THEN he could go off and play.

::: insert a little whine more for my benefit then anything else :::

Caleb mowed fast *AND* thoroughly (Cruel checked behind him, we learned to INSPECT what we EXPECT) and then he left to go have fun.

No headache or at least not complaining about one...

I learned.