'membering my rules...

Context: Turner got in trouble at school yesterday. He hasn't been taking naps off and on this week (or the past two for that matter). This week, instead of resting quietly during nap time, he has been trying to draw attention to himself. Yesterday he giggled until he was put into time out, at which point he did some things we'll just call ugly. He was removed from the classroom. I kept him home with me today so we could get back to remembering what our rules are and why. I figured Turner just needed some extra attention to help him remember how rewarding minding our manners can be. 

Story: 

Turner is up around 6-ish. We get into the shower and get clean. We go to Trader Joe's to buy a few things so we can get some cash back (it is about four blocks closer than the bank and we needed mushrooms anyway) because, as we learned yesterday, the barbershop only takes cash. Trader joe's has Turner-size carts that he loves to push. We get mushrooms and pizza crust and a $4 bottle of wine (they really aren't so bad). I ask Turner at several points to remember his manners. He slams into my feet several times and I ask him to stop. Long story short, before we leave Trader Joe's Turner has pushed his little cart across the checkout lanes while doing the screaming whine that has become much too familiar. One mother looks at me (her little girl quietly standing behind a cart and her other baby sleeping in a sling). Her first glance was understanding. After Turner puts his cart away (that was the whole instigator to the yelling whine), he comes around the corner and starts screaming that he wants his sucker (a bribe for doing well at the barbershop, which we haven't even gotten to yet). The mother glances at me again. Another lane opens, I go to it. Turner follows, not before spitting in exasperation. The salesclerk is quite expeditious and I take Turner to the front porch of the store for a time out. He refuses and the yelling persists. The poor old man trying to sit three tables down from us says something encouraging to me as I carry a wiggling, screaming Turner and our groceries to the car. We sit in time out silence in the 4000 degree heat while our little, black car tries desperately to combat the desert.

Five minutes later, after we finish our car meditation, I ask Turner if he remembers why he is home with me today.

"Cuz I didn't follow the rules at school."

"Exactly. Did you follow the rules in the grocery?"

"No."

We are ready for his haircut. We get there and the place is empty 

but somehow we have a 40 minute wait for his haircut. So, not only do they not accept cash, but you are allowed to check in and leave and return at a specific time. It is like dinner reservations.

In the 40 minutes we wait, I sit on the floor (yes, me, floor, public place) and we play with Monsters, a dump truck, magazines, and air hockey (also a very cool thing about the barbershop). Turner gets his hair cut.  We go to the grocery to finish our shopping. He is very good most of the ride. It is the grocery so he does get his cookie (instead of the sucker because he was perfect at the barbershop). As we come to the checkout lane, he starts whining for a juicebox. I tell him I am thinking about it and while I think he must think about how it is he wants to act. He agrees.

He rides his bike while I unload groceries. I start putting them away as he rides to the end of the sidewalk and back, each time at our door yelling in to me how many feet his black mark is (my way of keeping a check on him). He comes in dripping with sweat and unable to get his helmet off. He starts demanding the juicebox. I don't say anything; I just pretend to not have heard him. He clings his body to my leg and says, "I know Mom. I need to be 'membering my manners." I give him the juicebox. He takes a nap today (1:30 - 4:40). He wakes up and demands something from the top of the stairs. I walk to the stairs and ask, "Is that how we ask for things?"

"No. Sorry Mommy. I 'member now." And, then he asks using his manners.

Maybe tomorrow we'll actually make it to get his pictures taken, which was the reasoning behind the haircut this morning.