Ogre Mommy

I hate disciplining my kids. I do it, because I want them to grow up to be responsible, loving, caring human beings who know the difference between right and wrong, and who consider the consequences of their actions. But taking away my son's favorite activity for the next three weeks really hurts my heart.

The Chief and I have always used natural consequences to discipline the children, which teaches them that their actions have consequences, and hopefully teaches them to think before they act. You leave your bike outside all night where it could be stolen? The bike goes up in the garage rafters for a couple of weeks. You deliberately break your sister's toy? You replace it with your own money.

And when Hell's Barrister deliberately blows off assignments at school, and admits that it was because he'd rather play his new video game, obviously the video game privileges have got to go. I hate taking away his video games, because his games seem to be the only thing he really enjoys. He's not a social kid--doesn't have many friends. Doesn't really have any hobbies other than reading and playing elaborate strategy games by himself. I've been trying for years to help him discover where his passion lies. We've bought art supplies, encouraged him to take community ed. classes, helped finance things that he was interested in that had the potential to become a lifelong passion and hobby...with no success. I've made myself available to take him to friends' houses, made our house available if he wants to have friends over, but he just doesn't seem interested. The video games are his passion, and I guess I just have to accept that.

And when I have to take away the only activity he seems to truly enjoy, I feel like the terrible, growling, teeth-gnashing, baby-eating Ogre Mommy.

Must dash now, it's time to polish my fangs...