litterbug

Well, today we joined the ranks of parents who have watched in horror as their kid tossed something from the car window. Dennis had asked for his window to be rolled down, and I did it for him. I heard a crash just moments later and checked the rear view mirror to see his snack bowl bouncing and breaking. I asked (yelling) "Did you just throw your BOWL out the WINDOW?". Ellen, who I happened to be on the phone with at the time, collapsed into laughter (which is what I would have done if I had been on that end of the conversation myself). I turned quickly into Psycho Mommy, ranting at him about what he'd done, probably blowing it way out of proportion. I had a migraine this morning, a pretty bad one, and since the Blazer has significant parts OUT of the engine compartment, we had to share the car. David drove the Tracker to work and came home for lunch. We drove him back to work so we could have the car tonight (I went to a class at church, an Alpha course, very cool) and it was on our way back from this that he committed his crime. I guess I was post-migraine, but I remember shopping for that little melamine bowl with the cars and trucks on it, part of a set with a plate and cup that was his first ever dining set. And littering of any kind is a real pet peeve to a tree-hugger like myself. So I got a bit hysterical and Dennis was quick to inform me "God doesn't like it when you get mad at me like that." I apologized later, much later, and he apologized as well, telling me "you have bought me lots of other bowls and they are at home--I can just use those."

Also on his rap sheet for tonight: jumping on Gran's outstretched finger (she was holding an ice pack on it when I picked him up tonight) and jumping on their couch that resulted in him falling on his head. He's been impossible all week, multiple time-outs at school, lots of back-talk... And he took over the head of our table, usurping David. When I mentioned this to Mom tonight, she said he did the same thing over there tonight at dinner, insisting on the seat at the head of the table. I don't know who elected Dennis head of the household (or king of the world, or whatever it is that he thinks he is). I do know we're in a rush to take back the power! We have made it clear that WE are in charge, but I have a feeling it's going to be a lesson that will be oft repeated in the coming months and years.

And now the good stuff: he cleaned his room twice today without us asking him to. It's been cleaned every day before he leaves it or goes to bed. I'm so proud. And he spontaneously told us this joke in the car this afternoon: "What can jump higher than a house? Anything! Houses can't jump!". Cute!