Toddlers? - try school age boys

[Guest guest]

DS1 and DS2 (nearly 9 and 7 respectively) doing the usual dawdling while

getting ready for school - despite numerous requests, pleas etc. Finally get

them out of the house, but, once again, numerous other things distract them.

Much more pleading etc., and finally very loud shouting, and they get into

the car only to start arguing over a school book club magazine, at which

point the hitting starts. Then DS1 calls DS2 a d***h**d. So I finally lose

it - and scream (yes scream), about how they should think about the other

children in the world, such as those in Afghanistan, whose cities are being

bombed and don't have enough food, and all they can do is argue over a stupid

piece of paper. This shuts them up and they are both quiet on the run to

school.

But, as I pulled my car out of the drive way, there was my neighbour quietly

watering the lawn with a wry smile on her face. She probably heard the whole

thing. What will she think of me - although as a mother of 2 (now grown-up)

boys herself - I hope she was understanding :-)

Debbie Slater

Perth, WA