Here come the TWEEN YEARS...first sign, "I'm running AWAY!"

As a parent you know most school mornings are a rush.....trying to get everything done and motivate your kids to, let's say, SHOWER!! Currently my 9yo dislikes SHOWERS and does a dance of frustration when it's his turn!! This happened yesterday...as a result a mini-battle ensued and he lost privileges to the PS3 for the rest of the week!! Any parent knows....you have the power when you threaten to take away the PS3! Quickly their attitude changes...it's their life line..(sadly)...and once you take it away...they become a puddle of mush on the floor! But after doing this, things change...the child actually does other things!! They go outside, they read, they draw...!! It's a miracle!! They're ALIVE!!

This morning he was back on the PS3...I reminded him about his punishment!! He thumped upstairs and I didn't see him for awhile! Getting the other kids ready for school, I walked past his door...he was dressed, poster down off the wall and he was bunching up his bed sheet! Curious...I asked what he was doing!

"I am running away, I am giving the poster to Alex...and the sheet is for the food that I am taking....I'm just gonna walk to school and sit on the curb and wait for the bell."

My reply, "What are you gonna do later? And you can't take my food. You use your OWN money to buy food. And you will need lots of money to survive. And if the police see you, they will bring you back to me or take you to foster care. You will live in a strangers house and most likely go to another school."

He thought for a bit...."Well, I'll get a job delivering and buy my own food. I just want a new life."

I listened to his speech and he seemed determined in his running away! I could only think of this, "Well food is really expensive now a days...delivering doesn't pay much...you are going to be eating a lot of pasta and you don't like pasta! Also...you want a new life? By doing this you WILL have a new life for sure! But you know what, you will leave THAT new life too, cause you didn't change. You need to change your thoughts, attitudes and perspective and life will be amazing...if you stay here and just change your attitudes and accept that you have to shower, DAILY...you will have an amazing life!! And you know what...if you don't shower..you are gonna be alone...cause you will be STINNNNNKY!! Life can and will be hard and it will be harder when you leave. If you stay here...you have Daddy and I to help you! We will always be here to help!"

We sat on the bed and decided to have a "redo"!! He is currently in school and his bed sheet is back on his bed!

The running away made me think of myself! When I was around his age...I ran away!! I didn't like how I was being treated...and that part is fuzzy....I can't remember WHAT triggered the running away...but I was determined!! My little Brother was standing by the tree...crying, cause he didn't want me to leave! I remember THAT vividly!!
I ran away....and returned shortly after!! Mom didn't even know that I was gone!! LOL!! I feel like I have come FULL CIRCLE!

I have 3 kids....it's just the beginning, isn't it!?