I should write a parenting book. Or maybe just a pamphlet....

While shopping, my girls drive me bonkers because they Beg ask for something that they JUST LOVE SO MUCH AND THEY REALLY WANT IT and I sometimes I go ahead and purchase it against my better judgement.

*whew, that was a run-on sentence if ever I did see one*

Well they got me around Thanksgiving while we were shopping at one of those high rent stores at the mall.

You know the store...they sell the same stuff elsewhere, at a fraction of the cost. (example: a cute belt at Target, or even at Macy's ON Sale for 9.99, at The high rent store that is approx. $22.99.)

A moment of weakness on my part. It happens.

But I am learning.

On this particular trip, they each begged asked nicely for those cute, stylish & trendy scarves. I did not want to spend the $19.99 for them, cause I knew they had them at Target for about half the price AND that they won't really wear them. (this is Florida, for heavens sake)

Well, the begging worked. I caved in.

Truth be told, my Mom was with us and I did not want her to wittness a mall beating.

But I stressed to them, they HAVE to be worn to get our moneys worth.

"Oh, yes, I will wear it all the time Mom, really, I love it..thankyousomuch"
The story of my life.

Do you think they wore them more than ONCE?

Not so much.

I found one hanging on the back of a bedroom door the other morning and told Linds that if she did not wear that scarf TODAY, that I would charge her $19.99 plus tax.

Oh, yes I did.

And guess what?

It worked. She wants to save her money for other things and NOT a scarf that she already has.

Not a great picture, but you see my point.

Yeah, I just have a way with kids.

Super nanny who?

Another parenting tactic that I am using lately....are you taking notes????

Get the child to WRITE it down.

EVIDENCE of a conversation.

Example:

Lo begged for me to color her hair for her a few weeks ago.

I know the drill with this kid. She is never happy with her hair. Every cut she gets is not good. I want bangs, I don't want bangs, I want it shorter, I want it long...

She is just hard on herself and the beautiful tresses she was born with.

So, I told her I would color her hair, but she had to do this first:

Good right? I am sure it would hold up in a court of law.....

Her wonderful little Sister pointed out to me later what was written on the backside of our binding agreement.

Sweet right???

NOT. But she is 15.

Crap is the only bad word used around this house....so that tells you what she was thinking.

Oh, and I overheard her a few days later say to one of her friends that she did not like the hair color...but she NEVER complained to me or in front of me.

Smart girl.