Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Meanest or smartest?

I don't care if Lennon digs holes in my backyard or colors our house with chalk.  I don't even care if he wears his underwear backwards and insists on a cape in public.  But after a week of toothpaste on the walls, a flooded bathroom/hallway, and finding him on the couch enjoying a fresh loaf of homemade bread with his grimy fingers, I cared.

No punishment seemed harsh enough; he plays in his room, he sneaks off the couch time-out, he's not even afraid of a spank anymore.  And just like that, yesterday I became either the smartest or the meanest mom on earth.  I sent him to his own (kitchen) island.
Kitchen Island Time-Outs may catch on because 1.) they create natural isolation (almost like my own Alcatraz),  2.) he can't see or hear the TV  and 3.) he can't leave until I'm ready to set him free. 

Now all I have to do is ask, "Do you want to go back to the island?" 

10 comments:

mandy* said...

Smartest mom! He looks genuinely upset!

raegan said...

Ooh! I say smartest! Way to stay a step ahead of the little guy! You are one smart mama!

Sarah said...

VERY smart! It if works, it's perfect.

Karen said...

Don't forget to hug and kiss and hug and kiss him when his island time is over!

Tiffany said...

genius. this is yet another reason why I must have a kitchen island someday...

Desiree + Dyer + Isabelle said...

Holy cow, I'm putting this to memory!

Tommy Lowell said...

Why don't you just go to pet smart and get a metal dog cage and put him in that?

I must say if my mom did something so drastic to me I might take it pretty serious and realize she isn't messing around, until... She sticks the camera in my face and starts laughing. Then, I curl up into a ball and do my best to stay warm as I sit almost naked, a top a very cold granite counter top on a cool fall afternoon.

I think the cold granite island is but a metaphor to the harsh psychological "time out" that's going on in poor Lennon's head right now.

MediocreMama said...

Tommy, I dress Lennon every single day yet this is his preferred attire. Whether or not it's comfortable on the island is not my problem.

sarah said...

SMARTEST! i am in love with this idea and i'm sure i will be putting it to use in a couple of years!

Carol said...

How smart are you?!!! That never occurred to me ... sending the kids to their rooms was like throwing Brer Rabbit into the Briar Patch. They had books, toys, color books, etc., but the cold granit island ... now that's Genius!! (their own little piece of Alcatraz) LOL