Cruel to be kind

As all parents will tell you, having children is a bit of a roller coaster and whilst I tend to write about all of the magical moments, there are plenty of equally frustrating times. Last night was one of these times. I am a strong believer in all four of us sitting down at the table each evening for our dinner. However last night Joshua and Brandon both decided for some reason that they were not going to touch their dinner.

Now I tend to be very easy going with the boys and  probably the more jovial parent. However when they are naughty I let them know they are and discipline them accordingly. So after last nights episode the boys were made to sit at the table the entire evening until they ate some food, and if they didn't eat then it was no pudding and up for a bath and bed. I think they thought I was joking at first and that they would sit there for 20 mins and then get down and play.

How wrong they were. After 30 mins at the table me and Tina had finished dinner and cleared our plates away. Joshua and Brandon then asked if they could leave the table and were told no because they had not eaten there dinner. Once they realised I was serious we then had around 45 mins of non stop screaming and crying from both boys whilst we all remained sat at the table. Joshua learnt his lesson and finally gave in to eat his potato and vegetables and was therefore allowed a yogurt for pudding. Brandon was so stubborn and wouldn't eat a thing, so we all sat there until 6:15pm, then got down from the table and the boys went up for a bath and bed. Total time sat at the table was nearly an hour and a half!

I value my quality time with the boys very much and don't like having to discipline them. After last nights events I felt really really bad. However you have to be cruel to be kind sometimes and the boys have got to learn (the easy way or the hard way). So whilst I felt bad about things, deep down I know it was the right thing to do and will make meal times better in the future. I think Joshua definitely learnt his lesson, not so sure about Brandon. On the plus side they both slept through all night and then woke very hungry - and guess what - the ate very well at the dinner table tonight.

Anyway changing the subject slightly, of the two boys there is absolutely no doubt Brandon is the clumsy accident prone one. Tonight was yet another point in example as he lept onto the bean bag at break neck speed and split his eyelid open on the TV unit!!! However you will be pleased to hear he is fine and all smiles with his tiger plaster protecting his eye. Looks like he might have a nice shiner for his birthday this weekend.

Finally here is a picture of the two boys ready for bed and wearing their new Lightning McQueen dressing gowns which they got for Xmas.