I was spring cleaning and putting things out for Goodwill or other charities to pick up one evening. I guess I woke my 10yr old son up (at the time). Earlier that day, I'd received a progress report from his school that was not so good. Earlier that week my 7yr old daughter had been admonished for doing something that I can't recall right now.

Anyhow, when my son saw me packing clothes and putting them outside, he quietly went back up the stairs to tell my daughter. I saw them peeping around the staircase at me but bothered not to acknowledge them. Finally my son came down to ask what I was doing.

At this point I realized their concern so I was cracking up to the point of tears. They thought that I was leaving them. Since I already had tears in my eyes, I put the last bag of clothes out then went to them and told them that I loved them both but could not deal with their behavior as of late. I kissed them both on the cheeks, despite their pleading that their grades and behavior would get better.

The kitchen curtain and window was still open from the day of spring cleaning so I was able to hear and see them. Both of them were crying and then they began to argue.

My son told her that it was her fault that they didn't have a mother anymore because of what she'd done in school. My daughter told my son "You know how smart or how mamma is and don't like being around dummies...that's why she left daddy cause that's what she said when she was on the phone with Auntie Angel."

Finally, I came back inside to straighten them out but boyoboy did I ever have a good time and big smile when I saw their faces light up after shouting to them, "April fools!"

That was sorta mean spirited but however it yeilded us some pretty good attitude and behavior modifying conversation the rest of the night as I explained that I'd never leave. We cuddled up on the sofa and fell asleep happy.

[ April 01, 2005, 10:07 PM: Message edited by: Sugaree ]