Tough Love

So, Ella has swim lessons at the Chisolm Park pool in the evening.  The pool has a great kids play area and Aleck and Ella love it.  After swim lessons, we stay and play in the play area.  Aleck was naughty and disobedient earlier in the day and as punishment, he didn’t get to go to the pool this evening.  He cried inconsolably and begged “please Mom”.  It broke my heart, but I didn’t give in to his pleading and when that didn’t work, he pulled out the big guns.  He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I don’t love you any more!”  Little toot.  I just calmly looked at him and said, “Mommy is sorry to hear that, but Mommy will always love you no matter what you do.” 

When Aleck realized that I meant business and he in fact was not going swimming, he settled down and actually had a pleasant time coloring and spending time alone with me.

Later, he looked at me and said, “Mommy, I really do love you.”  Aleck, Mommy never doubted it.