Mom's Statement Backfires

We parents do our best to raise our children with decency and respect. Sooner or later we come face-to-face with attitudes, which we must confront before they escalate.

I had this discussion with Kaleb one day after school when his demeanor was not appropriate. He had asked to get on the computer to play a game on noggin.com. I replied, "Not right now, Kaleb. First, you need to do your homework, and then you can play." He immediately became focused on not getting his way. He proceeded to tell me, "I'll get on the computer whenever I want to!"

I reprimanded his actions and told him that he could play his computer game after spending some time in his room, thinking about his attitude. A few minutes had passed, and he emerged from his room, apologizing for his attitude. The rest of the evening, he was the prodigal son.

Now, my children and I have a very close relationship. They know they can talk to me about anything without fear of judgment. We joke around with each other on a daily basis, and practically thrive on sarcasm. My older boys know when they have crossed the line, but I'm still establishing this boundary with the twins.

Upon waking each morning, I like to sit down in front of the computer sipping my java slowly, savoring each distinct flavor, while reading the news online. This morning "Mommy time" is my own way of staying connected with the world before motherly duties commence.

All of my boys know not to "mess with" Mom before her first cup of coffee. Most mornings go without a hitch because they sleep until I wake them . . . once the caffeine begins coursing through my veins. This next morning, however, was different.

As I was making my daily pilgrimage toward the coffee pot, I discovered that Kaleb was already awake and taking over my routine. He had stolen my morning spot in front of the laptop, and was playing his game right inside my morning sanctuary.

As I stumbled through the living room and into the kitchen, I told him, "Kaleb . . . save your game. As soon as I make my coffee, I'm coming in there to get on the computer."

Without batting an eye, Kaleb replied, "Not with THAT attitude, you're not!" I sharply looked over at him, appalled by his "attitude," only to discover this humorous, sarcastic expression on his face. He immediately burst into a gut-filled laughter stating, "I'm just kidding you, Mom!" It was then that I realized that sarcasm gene had definitely been passed down to him.