It’s that time again. Cian was sleeping. He was, really. Then he got fussy, but there was hope of him going right back to sleep. I may be unrealistic, but I’m still holding out for sleep overtaking him. He’s had a lot of activity today, a lot of crying, and a lot of fussing. That has to have tired him out enough to sleep. Right? Both he and are exhausted.

Hunter’s been bad enough at school and during homework recently that we’ve had to…

–Went to sleep, it’s now the next morning–

…take pretty much everything away from him. I know that it’s in the nature of children to push the boundaries that parents have set, no matter what age they are, but these endless attempts at negotiation are maddening. Punishment is not supposed to be fun. That’s why it’s punishment, and not happy-fun-candy-time. Convincing a hard-headed eight-year-old that punishment is the effect to his actions’ cause is nearly impossible, even when you’re a hard-headed thirty-one-year-old. I’m being mean and unfair, I’m not delivering consequences for arguing incessantly with teachers and parental units (including myself).

I have to say, though, that I’m glad that his teachers are not shy about communicating with parents. Keeping the lines of communication open has let us know that he’s having the same issues there that he’s having at home, and it prevents him from playing one group of adults against the other.

All of that said, he had an excellent day at school yesterday, and only threw a minor fit when we enforced his punishment here at home. I have high hopes that he will continue the good streak, and take advantage of this opportunity to earn his way out of punishment.