House rules
Recently, there was a new Curious George episode that dealt with rules. (The episode has George building a tree house to get away from all the “house rules” and be able to make his own rules, i.e. paint on the walls and butter his corn with his feet.)
Not long ago, Tad decided that our living room windowsill needed a little color – green crayon, to be precise. Ane saw this (naturally, she ratted him out with a “23-19” call), and then scolded him firmly for breaking the “house rules.”
After reminding her who is Mommy in this house (hint: not her), I realized that using the term “house rules” clicked with her. So it has become a very convienent way to remind her of what is not allowed in our house.
No coloring on the walls. House rules.
No playing in the sink when you wash your hands. House rules.
No throwing toys (especially at your sibling). House rules.
This Saturday, Tad took his monkey backpack/leash outside with him to play. While I was cleaning up for dinner (Friend, Doc and boys were soon to arrive), and the Webmaster was cleaning up the bathroom (same reason), Ane decided that she would use the monkey.
She snapped it around his head, blinding him, and then proceeded to lead him around the backyard. And when I say “lead,” I mean “drag.” On the ground, in the wet, muddy grass.
Tad was screaming bloody murder by the time I was able to get to him and free him. Ane started screaming bloody murder when I sent her to her room for a time-out, instead of sending her to the kitchen stepstool for a traditional time-out. (I pulled out the big guns.) The Webmaster took Tad inside and cleaned him up (including a complete clothes change), so I could finish getting dinner ready, with musical wailing in the background coming from Ane’s room.
When I told Friend and Doc about what Ane did, Doc commented, “I don’t think you’ve ever specifically told her not to drag her brother around the yard on a leash.”
Which is true. However, I think the house rules would have covered that loophole. Then again, maybe the house rules don’t apply outside. It might just be the law of the jungle out there.
In any case, she won’t be doing that again. Ever.
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September 24th, 2007 18:42
Later she’ll chalk that one up to “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Tad, on the other hand, will chalk it up to “My mean sister abusing me mercilessly.”
It’s all about perspective.
September 26th, 2007 12:33
To avoid this issue again you could pull out the biggest guns of all, think of everything Ane could possible do to anything (and the same for Tad) ranging from trying to chop wood alone to shaving their heads, and put it all on a list of things not to do.