Our New Parental Anthem: "We're Not Gonna Take It"

No, we're not gonna take it. We're not gonna take it anymore!!!

That song conveniently came on the radio tonight just as we were ending a disastrous family outing to Trader Joes. Yes, Trader Joes the grocery store -- we live dangerously these days. First, keep in mind that Mazy and Bo were home all week with me and Violet. For the most part, we had a delightful time together and did many fun activities. But the last few days, the talking back, the refusal to do things, the tantrums, the fighting -- have all been on the increase.

Anyway, let me fast forward to tonight. Shawn arrived home from work at about 5:30. We were all ready to go and after he changed his clothes, we piled into the van without too many delays for bad behavior. Shawn wanted to stop at a thrift shop before heading to the suburban mecca of Jordan Creek. I waited in the van with the children. Sweet, sweet Violet was sleeping peacefully. Her brothers were arguing over who drew the best plants in their pictures of Plants Vs. Zombies. That's when my headache started.

Next stop, Trader Joes. Now Jordan Creek and Trader Joes are probably 15 to 20 miles from our house. It is not an area we go to often for that very reason. So when you go, you tend to want to pack a lot of fun into the evening. We had planned on buying some fun treats at Trader Joes for the weekend, then going somewhere for dinner together and then ending the evening with a stroll around the manmade pond near the big Jordan Creek Mall. And because of the nice summery weather, I'm sure I would have talked Shawn into frozen yogurt for the gang.

Well, we didn't even make it out of Trader Joes... Long story short: tonight we as parents decided that we were not gonna take it anymore. Fits and tantrums were met with swift punishment -- immediate removal to the van, a stern lecture that made Mazy cry and Bo sulk, and then straight home with nothing fun at all. Nothing!

On the way home, as we were contemplating the black market rate for a 7-year-old and a nearly 4-year-old, we thought, "Why should their behavior ruin our evening?" It was just 6:45. Our favorite Thai/Chinese restaurant was right on the way home. So Shawn went in and ordered us a fabulous dinner to go. But not one single egg roll for those ornery boys. We then went home and fed the boys sandwiches and water, and then sent them to bed. Shawn went back for our food, and then Shawn and I enjoyed our first quiet dinner together since Violet was born. It was wonderful. We each even drank a Leinie's Lemon Shandy. And that sweet Violet sat in her bouncy seat staring up at us and the ceiling fan as happy as could be. After we ate, I went upstairs to hug and kiss the boys and tell them that tomorrow would be another day and another chance for them to be happy and well behaved.

And it will be. That's the great thing about children. You're stuck with them so you might as well start each day with a clean slate.