Family Journal

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I had told the kids we would get out of the house for a while today, so my 4-year-old was pestering me to GO NOW. I had some work to finish, so I put him off by telling him to go find his clothes and get dressed.

In a flash, he was back in the office telling me he couldn't find his pants. "OK," I said. "I'll come find them in a minute." Well, you know THAT wasn't good enough. In typical 4-year-old fashion, he started chanting, "I need my PANTS, I need my PANTS, Mommy find my PANTS."

I tuned it out for about 10 minutes while I was concentrating on something but then it was too much. "If I hear the word PANTS out of your mouth again, we're not going anywhere!" I threatened. "I mean it. You will just have to wait a minute."

I turned back to my work and he walked up quietly beside me. He touched my shoulder and said softly, "Mommy?"

"Yes?" I answered.

"Look at me," he said. So I did.

Then he said slowly and carefully, " I need you to find something to go right here!" he said, patting his knees with his hands.

(Sigh) Well, he didn't say PANTS again...