I had one of those moments last week that sparks hope and excitement over this hard work of parenting.
Both of my boys came home with notes for misbehavior on the bus that day. I talked with them about it a little bit, but I was tired and didn't feel like making a big deal out of it, so I didn't dole out any punishments. Instead I change the subject and told them I had brownies for them as a thank you for being so good the night before, when I was out.
The Bug was uncharacteristically quiet while I said this. Then he surprised me by spontaneously volunteering to give up computer time "until the signed bus note is turned in" because, he said, "I want to show you how sorry I am".
I pointed out to him that it was Friday, and the bus note wouldn't be returned until Monday, so that meant going all weekend without computer games. He really meant it though, and he was determined to do it. He honestly struck me speechless! I couldn't say anything, I just hugged him!
He was stoic about it though, even when his little brother asked for computer time on Sunday afternoon, at a point when both boys were kind of at loose ends. I told Sweet Pea that it would be unkind to play computer games in front of The Bug when he had given them up, but The Bug heard this and said that, it was ok, he would just stay upstairs “away from temptation.”
There are so many times when they are little that you wonder whether they will ever develop the capacity for sincere remorse (instead of just wanting to evade consequences), to really see that their actions affect other people and want to grow and change accordingly. My Bug is maturing in surprising leaps and bounds, in between bouts of familiar goofiness.
