Please, Please Mommy!

Today Addison got ejected from our sensory play for repeated and intentional throwing.  (I'm not sure if I'll ever get all the little neon aquarium rocks out from under the fridge.)  After a little while of acting like it didn't bother her, she came to the gate and watched Caden and I continuing our play.  And then it came.  Addison leaned on the baby gate like she was in a jail cell and started begging.  "Please, please Mommy (sob, sob)...  Open gate? (sob)...  Please, please (sob, sob)?"  It was a little hard to ignore that.  Especially when I snuck a peak in her direction and saw the waterworks streaming down her sweet little face.  But I  buffed my Mommy badge and put on my game face.  I know that despite the best parenting, tantrums happen.  But I have no desire to be in the middle of Target with double meltdowns in progress, and know in my heart that I greased the track for those speeding freight trains of dynamite by being inconsistent with rules and procedures.  And so, she cried.  Begged and pleaded.  All to no avail.  Which in the end, I feel is a much better alternative to finding myself crying, begging and pleading with her to do as I asked.  And in my educational experience at least, that's exactly where inconsistency takes you...

Oh, that I would be granted the wisdom to set appropriate rules and procedures.  The confidence to hold tight to the things that are non-negotiable.  And the flexibility to be relaxed about the things I want them to have choice over.  Because somewhere in that mix, is the delicate balancing act of retaining control without making the kids feel micromanaged.  The art of facilitating instead of dictating.  And creating an environment where I model what I want the kids to emulate as they grow.  One meltdown at a time.