2009-11-21

Thursday was just a bad grumpy evening for Amy and Emily. Lots of bickering, whining, crying. The plan then became get those girls to bed earlier--like 7:30 instead of 8. I wanted them to do some reading though, so we had that all orchestrated and so I had decided to subtly cut down on what I read to them. They had asked earlier for us to read a picture book we hadn't read in our picture book extravaganza and I figured that plus the 2 chapters in the current fairy book and we'd be set.
Well, after I read the picture book I'd picked (Brave Irene by William stieg) Amy requested that we also read CinderEdna. Since it is a longer book I said (mistake number 1 for the record), if we read this, we'll need to skip the last 2 chapters of the fairy book. Emily didn't just say--I'd rather read the fairy book, she started wailing. So then I said how about Cinder edna and one chapter of fairies. They both wailed. How about we just stick to the plan. Screaming ensued. I gave the major warning--knock it off, decide sensibly or we're done reading for the night.
A small fight broke out that included some name calling and the accusation that YOU always get YOUR way. So we ended it.

Everyone went upstairs for teeth bushing, last potty call and tuck ins just sobbing. Amy was alternately sobbing and throwing a fit. We'd get them settled down, get one thing done ,then it would start again. We pushed through it and gave the threat--tuck ins were not happening for screamers and sobbers. They both settled down a bit. Emily seemed content to give us dirty looks. Amy kept losing it.

After I tucked them both in, and was finishing up Amy's goodnights she started to throw the fit again, sobbing. The screaming went like this:
I can't sleep with just one book. I can't I can't I can't. I need more. Something, anything. An easy reader or a story you tell us please please please, I NEED it, I can't sleep without it A NURSERY RHYME EVEN. Please.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. She ended up getting the major threat--if I have to come up here again, I'm taking 10 minutes off tomorrow's TV time, you will sit here for 10 minutes while Emily watches TV, and Emily--if it is for you , you will sit here, if it is both of you TV will not start until 4:10. Every time it happens that's another 10 minutes--got it, good night. Final time--8:30

Amy got the last laugh though--In the midst of calmly explaining that it was my favorite time of the day too and I was also disappointed, I said we'll read tomorrow. Amy said--before school? and I allowed that yes, if we were ready to go early, I'd read. Amy woke us up at 6:10--we usually all get up between 7 and 7:30 and announced she wanted to get ready for school. That girl needed her books.

This morning, I woke them up at 7 because I needed to leave for work at 7:10 and they hate it if people leave without their knowledge and Amy--who usually wakes us up says to me: Go back to bed, it isn't 7 and it is SATURDAY.
Ha! Guess she's been listening all this time.

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