Just Desserts
For the second week in a row Thomas has lost all desserts and sweets. On Saturday he enjoyed a brief window of sugary happiness in which we baked and ate brownies together before having his dessert privileges revoked again for refusing to follow our instructions. Today, both Anna and Theodore were sleeping and free from the interference of a crying baby and a destructive preschooler Thomas asked to play a board game. I was happy to oblige but I was quite exhausted and really, really wanted a brownie pick-me-up. Normally I would cut Thomas a square too, to enjoy during our game, but he had lost his desserts. So as not to rub salt in Thomas’ wound, I thought about waiting for my brownie until the kids were asleep tonight but I really wanted one right then and there dammit! So I told Thomas to set up the game and I got myself a big hunk of brownie, heated it up, and topped it with whipped cream (I don’t mess around with dessert). Thomas was incredulous when I sat down and ate the brownie right in front of him.
So what do you think: is he going to be crying to his therapist whist stuffing his face with brownies 20 years from now or will he think harder about the consequences of his behavior from now on?
January 12th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Well two timeouts from dessert. Now having to watch you eat a brownie with whip cream on it has to make an impression on Mr Thomas. I know if mom cut me off from dessert I would sit up and take notice and change my ways.
January 12th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
I would probably plot how, when I was older, to make as many of your favorite desserts as possible and eat them all in front of you. And not change my behavior at all. But that’s just me
I totally understand why you did it 
January 12th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
“So what do you think: …….”
“Wow!-I thought you would get blasted for your behavior by those who read the blog but it doesn’t seem so from reading the two responses above.
Or your readers were demonstrating extreme restraint-that is what I will do….NO COMMENT.
January 13th, 2012 at 1:49 am
@Mike – It’s called “not questioning the commander in the field” in my house. A questionable decision on the part of Miss Mendolo, sure. But we don’t know what provoked it originally. So we send love her way
January 13th, 2012 at 3:32 am
Our gift! I just checked the link. How does Thomas like “Hoot Owl Hoot”?
January 20th, 2012 at 4:01 am
I’m going to vote for neither. Indignations rarely (if ever?) caused me to rethink my behavior though perhaps they should have? Instead just built up my stamina for surviving future indignations. It probably surfaced in a high school essay on “The Once and Future King.”
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I am in support. If Thomas is anything like Natalie, we have to make her “restrictions” very palpable or they don’t work. Case in point: Friday am Natalie lost TV for a week for not making sure her homework was complete (before Friday at 7am!). When Adam got up this morning (I was still blissfully sleeping) he found her on the couch, eating Pringles, and yes, watching cartoons on TV. Now she is without television, the Wii and the computer for a week. We also had to have a conversation about how Pringles are not an approved breakfast food…..
I really say it depends on the kid. If I look at Alex wrong he dissolves into tears and he is in general a much more obedient child. We probably won’t have to go to the same punishment extremes with him (I hope!).
January 25th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
I’m impressed! If I had done that with Zoe, her resulting crying fit would have ruined any pleasure I would have had from the brownie.
Me, I would sneak the brownie when she’s not looking! Though that ruins it too, as I can’t exactly savor anything when I can barely chew it before swallowing!
Oh and my opinion is this: we can NEVER predict what they will need therapy for. This thought is both freeing and terrifying.