Saving Face

[ailbhe]

This morning when I was making a big flask of hot water ready for the day's tea (so that I only boil the kettle once) Linnea and Emer stuffed a bit of dressing-up fabric into the wheeled shopping trolley. "I'm going to be very cross if there are things in my shopping trolley!" I said, and turned my back on them while I poured the kettle water out.

They concealed the evidence.

I do this a lot. I think it's because catching them out is harder work for me and no fun for them, but a side effect is that we both save face. "I'm coming upstairs and I don't want to see anything that makes me cross!" I call, and then I say "I'm halfway up now," and "I am on the top step now," and so on.

Most of the time, there's nothing to be cross about by the time I get up.

(Now we are all dancing to "Here come the ABCs" while wearing our hi-vis vests. It's all about personal dignity in this household).

Comments

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

I do similar, but I say unhappy or a bit sad, as I used to be scary mummy & say "x will make me angry" Andy even admired my parenting skills last night when I sent one of them back upstairs to bed just by saying I was a bit sad that they weren't in their bed.

Go me!

Normally, they aren't too awful at bedtime, but Andy didn't get back til an hour past their bedtime & they were awake in bed waiting. I didn't mind that so much, as at least they were calm & not charging around the house or bouncing on their beds & giving themselves second winds.

Nursery run now, so I get time off. Yay! Though, am off to Asda as we've run out of olive oil as the last bottle was used & not written on the shopping list (Andy still needs household training)

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

I like this idea and hope that I remember it when K is old enough to get my meaning :)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

That seems emimently fair.

I mean, if there IS something wrong, then what they need to do is remedy it. So, if it's remedied before you acknowledge it, well, it's better for everyone.

[biascut.livejournal.com]

I so remember my mum doing that to us.

[ailbhe]

*for* you, dear, *for* you.

;)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I love this practice you have, of giving them a chance to behave, and so they do.

(Weirdly phrased -- am talking to someone as I type.)