Let me put this in context for you... Like many of you, when I look at my calendar these days, I cringe. My husband's been away 20 out of the last 25 days (still battling health issues from last spring), basketball season has arrived (inc. practices/games) as has volleyball. There's also a steady flow of homework, parent-teacher interviews, halloween's a week away (last year we had 250+ kids), construction crews are ripping up the street in front of my house, we have three birthdays in the next 3 weeks (for both of my kids/husband) and I'm trying to put the finishing touches on a novel.Back to my youngest... When I tucked him in two nights ago he reminded me to put his party invitations in his knapsack so he could hand them out at school.
I frowned. "What party invitations?"
(insert eye roll from the child here) "Hello?! The invitations to my party? My birthday's on Wednesday, Mom. You didn't forget, did you?"
"Of course I didn't forget!"
But then I patiently went over the calendar with him, showed him how there are no free evenings for the next two weeks (not one) and explained that we'd have to pick a date in early November to have his party. After a brief silence, he glared at me, rolled over and said, "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
Which brings me to breakfast yesterday where he told me he thinks I don't have my priorities straight because I'm not doing something HUGE on his actual birth date (cake and dinner with family doesn't count, by the way) which in turn led to the question of all questions: "Are you trying to brush me off?!"
My immediate reaction (after resting my forehead against the fridge for a moment) was to burst out laughing, which made him so mad he stormed from the room. My delayed reaction? Well, this morning (his actual birth date) he woke to a brass bell clanging over his head at 6:22 a.m., the exact moment he arrived on this earth 11 years ago. I wished him a happy birthday, told him I loved him and that I'd planned this "bell-waking-surprise" so he wouldn't feel brushed off because things are so crazy around here this month.
(insert conciliatory smile from the child here)
Relationship semi-salvaged... at least for now.
13 comments:
That will teach him to complain. I might have to try that.
Oooooh, I would HATE having anyone ring a bell in my ear that early any morning. Poor child!!!
I reiterate how much I love hearing what your boys have to say! Also, I get this kind of thing all the time, and always burst out laughing. I feel like the best way to deal with it is to treat it like the theater that it surely is - that and set aside money for their therapy bills later on.
Very nice. I should have used that when my kids were young.
Perfect rebuttal on your part, Hol. I am sooo in the same camp as Mystery Robin. Good on ya...a sense of humor remains essential, even when they become grown men...trust me. ;-)
i enjoy your stories about your kids so much.
haha @ Mystery Robin's comment!
you can tell your kid has your mind dontcha think? comes up with great zingers that one
LOL ** Tell your little guy with his personality there's nobody who'd brush HIM off!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!! FROM HAWAII!!!!!!
Give him a hug from me and tell him when you are my age you thankfully let those parties go by the wayside...
Had you added a Brass Ring to the Brass Bell birthday celebration, do you think then he would have been completely satisfied? *G*
Ahhh guilt. No one does it better than offspring, yes?
i am 13 and i think thats kind of harsh. its his birthday and you should spend time with him. and its like everything else is more important than him and youe life is to etic to make time. of course he is feeling like he is being brished of. i would if my parents treated me like that. and then doing that bell ringing? i think hes right, you need to get your priorites right
i agree with Anonymous said, your life is to hectic to make time for your son?? i think that your relationship is in danger and that you should make time for him. and laughing at him to!!! i think you need to proritse a bit better
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