March Break Day One.

It is 9:24 am. So far I have timed Monty out in his room three times. Once for screaming at the top of his lungs for not being able to have a Rice Krispie square for breakfast, once for pulling Lucy back and forth at the top of the stairs by her shirt collar, and once for fighting with Sam.

Sam has had two meltdowns, actually one is happening right now! It's fun! I told him he wasn't to go on my computer. He went on my computer. I said, "Get off of my computer". He said, "I am just going to go downstairs and go on the other computer." I said, "NO, you are not. You are not going on the computer until you have practised violin."

And he said, as he is wont to do these days, "Yes, I AM." And he went downstairs and turned that baby on and started drawing a shamrock in Microsoft Paint.

With a deadly calm I went downstairs and said, "Get off that computer. And now you have directly disobeyed me, so you will not be playing any PS2 today." I turned around and went back upstairs.

Release the emotional floodgates. He screams like someone has just stuck a knitting needle in his eye. "MOMMY, NO! PLEEASE! I'M SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN IT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!"

I go back upstairs, sit at the computer with Lucy on my lap. He follows me on his hands and knees, wailing like a siren. And he is still there. I can't see him but from the sounds echoing off the hallway walls I think he must be laying on his back, hammering his heels into the floor. "GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE! PLEASE!"

Nope. It's the first day of MB and we are setting some ground rules here. Now please, help me to be STRONG. I must hold my position. I must not give in, no matter how the fluid around my eyes is vibrating with the sounds of discord coming from the hall.

It is 10:04. Aiyaaa, Monty has just climbed up on the counter to get himself a handful of chocolate chips. Gotta go pry those out of his hand. The noise will get very loud in here. So loud, you may even be able to hear it out there. So I will sign off.

Later!

A.