A couple of weeks ago I took the girls to their Super Reader’s Party at the 
Public Library where they received medals and certificates at the hand of the Mayor and First Lady of our city. As we were waiting for the ceremony to begin this is what I heard behind me:
“Ya’ll knock that off. If ya’ll don’t knock that off we’re leaving.”
“Stop that right now!”
“I’m going to count to three.”
“I’m this close.”
“Those little kids (referring to my kiddos – ha ha) are behaving way better than you are. This is embarrassing!”
“I don’t need this. I can just leave right now.”
“I’m this close.”
Then the ceremony started and what I found particularly hilarious was when her children went forward, this mom was the proudest mom ever, smiling ear to ear, saying how proud she was, and taking pictures. I know what this woman feels like. In fact after hearing this I was embarrassed at a couple of empty threats that I had conjured up earlier that day. It was a good lesson for me.
My mom would do this all the time…..except that if we didn’t behave she actually would get up and leave…..Ah! The things we missed because of acting up. haha
One thing I learned from my dad was, say it once and mean what you say. There were never any empty threats growing up. If my parents said it, they meant it. I was the same with my kids. That’s why they were so well behaved. They knew we meant it and that the consequences would follow. I would also warn them before any event. They were told at home how to act, what to do, what not to do and what the consequence would be should they require punishment. They were angels. We would be having a ball while other kids around us were throwing temper tantrums and their parents were stressing out.