Warning!
Boring parenting theory follows—skip this post if you’re not interested.

Yesterday, Sam, in his daily 4 o’clock tantrum, declared, “My head is gonna esplode if you don’t [do what I want]! Ten! Noin! Ate! Seben! Sicks! Foive! Faw! Free! Two! Wun!” He then proceeded to squint, grunt, and do everything in his power to will his head off. It didn’t work. If it was Gabe he would have tried to make a deal. Charm and cajole your way to what you want. Sam is much more direct. Just scream until you get what you want. Neither method works too well with us. If Lauran and I are already worn out and tired, they often get a frustrated yell in return. Even if we’re feeling great, we still send them to “time out.” Me, I got a wooden spoon when I was that age. For now, at least, the very idea of punishment is enough to make them repent of their evil ways. I have a feeling this isn’t going to last much longer. We have started “grounding” Gabe for infractions—no TV, no friends, no GameCube, etc.