We were brave this year. Not only did we put our Christmas tree INSIDE this year instead of our normal outside-on-the-porch tree, but I wrapped presents early and stuck them under the tree. My fear was the kids would trash the tree and the presents. They do hang around the tree a little more than I would like and everyday I have to rearrange ornaments, but I can handle that. Alex has also rearranged presents, but again, I am okay with that. Today, however, Alex went too far!! I was upstairs showering after my morning workout when I heard paper crumpling. I came downstairs to find Alex has ripped open 4 presents. One present was his. A Transformer Megatron toy that we knew he had wanted. Well, like the title of this post states, you don't mess with us!! When Andy got home from work we had him unwrap the rest of the toy, then we drove him to Walmart where we made him put it in the Toys for Tots bin!!! He will not be getting a Megatron toy this year. I felt a little bad about it, but holy crap, we told him at least 100 times since the tree has been up, "Don't touch the tree or presents!!!!!! They will go away!!!!". Well, he learned the hard way this year. He was tough and didn't cry and was actually pretty proud to "help the poor kids", so I think it was a good lesson for him.
Lesson #1 - Mommy and Daddy mean business.
Lesson #2 - It feels good to help other people.
Let's hope he remembers these lessons for a long, long, long time!
6 comments:
that is a really good idea. they learn to lessons, like you had in your #1 and #2. i'll have to remember that for later on. thanks!!
Just to add a little more color to this. Alex wasn't just peeking into his presents. Kristi and Alex were at the gym, and Alex wasn't being good, so they came home. Alex was being pouty, and Kristi went upstairs to shower. When she found him, he wasn't really unwrapping presents, but tearing open packages part way, then moving on to others - taking out his aggression on the Christmas presents. That was the behavior that I found unacceptable. My original thought was to return the present and get something else for him, but I figured this would be more educational for him, and would let him do something good as well.
that RULES.
I love it...you've got balls! I am really surprised that he didn't throw an absolute fit! Under our tree is like a barren wasteland until Christmas morning...and I'm sure it will be like that for several years to come! Sophie is already hard enough watching without a sneaky 3-yr-old who asks every day if it is Christmas yet!
I love it! How funny. I can just see Alex doing that and I can totally see you guys making him donate the present he ripped open in frustration. What a crack up. I like the story - thanks! And, I'll remember not to peek at presents at your place! he he
Good for you. I can see how it might be hard to stick to your guns on this one, but I'm sure he will remember this lesson.
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