So Life is good...

So, it's amazing what a few days can do.

I feel we've all calmed down. The potty usage is consistent, the routine of life is consistent and discipline... well...

I felt like I was just getting too angry. I was too frustrated. So, I used my husband as an example and calmed down. And I became quieter and more consistent with my discipline. Well, as every child will - the J-man decided to meet me at my new level and challenge it.

He flat out, big and bold - hurt our feelings. Yelling, screaming, spitting - the usual untolerated fare... and then told us he didn't like us. That's new... not entirely unexpected, but certainly not this soon. J-man, that's not nice, you apologize, you hurt mommy and daddy's feelings. He refused to apologize and that's what hurt! He's never not apologized before!

And oh was he a new kind of stubborn. And darn right mean. And I cried. And he didn't care. We certainly weren't going to discipline him into apologizing for hurting our feelings, but he did have to acknowledge as always that the spitting and screaming was unacceptable.

And then here comes the husband, "well I think he just feels like he didn't do anything wrong." Ok, that's acceptable for a teenager but not a toddler. That's how he'll learn some empathy by teaching him now, if he hurts someone's feelings, then you show them you care about them by apologizing. Am I right or am I right? I'm right.

Well, it took all day, but when I finally picked up the j-man from toddler school, he apologized. And, he apologized to his dad without being prompted also. Yeah! I mean, I was really, really hurt. And scared. What if he hadn't learned that lesson?

I am now positive that sympathy and empathy must be watched carefully. It will determine how he treats his teachers, and authority, and small animals and women... After all, I'm not just trying to raise a good boy, or a good man - my goal is to raise a good HUSBAND. That way, even if he doesn't want to get married, he'll still be a great guy!