Remember those amazing mint brownies I posted about last month?
Look at the Recipes! page if you forget.
I made them tonight because my two eldest children are going to Boot Camp tomorrow. This is not what you might imagine - not some military base or some fun in the sun summer kids' camp, but a good old fashioned dose of "TOE THE LINE ALREADY DAMMIT" camp. It will be located right in our very own home. And the best part is its free.
I'm sick and tired and sick and tired and sick and tired and sick and tired of them fighting. I'm sick and tired of it. I'm also sick and tired of Eva not taking "no" for an answer and trying to have the last word with me. Here's what's not working:
spankings
time-outs
discussions
stern talking-to's
letting them wrestle it out
rewards
losing privileges
sticker charts
sending them to their rooms
Tonight we put them in separate rooms of the house and they had to stay that way all evening, including supper. We ate supper in shifts - first Ryan and me, then Buzz, then Eva. It was so peaceful. We should've lit candles or played soft music. The plan is that tomorrow they will remain in separate rooms. They WILL also act more respectful and agreeable to me - and to each other if their paths must cross.
That's where the Boot Camp Brownies come in. I'm under no illusion that this is going to be easy. I will require serious amounts of chocolate to remain as patient, clear-headed, and straight-forward as I need to be. I don't care if I have to triple my nightly workout on the elliptical... I need brownies.
If you're considering taking a large and difficult leap in your week, make yourself a batch and join me. I'll keep you posted on how camp goes. And how quickly I eat the brownies.