I Was Firm, I Am Proud

Clark's Daytrana ADHD patch comes off at 5 pm every day. Like clockwork, by 7 pm, he's hyper and a little irrational. Now that spring is here, he wants to stay out later and later with his neighborhood friends and he feels silly and embarrassed when I call him before the others get called in.

Last night, I got both my kids inside by 7pm. They had dinner, watched some tv, had a bath and were in bed by 8pm.

How?

For the first time in a long time, despite my exhaustion from the day, I held firm to my plan. At dinner, Clark begged to go back out and play. After bath, he begged again. When one of Clark's friends came to the door to ask to play, the kids answered in their pj's and looked at me one last time for a glimmer of hope. All three times, I said no firmly and I stuck with it. When they raised their voices I immediately told them to be calm and control themselves. I expected Clark to have a storm and I was prepared for it. But between being firm and requesting calm, I got them in bed.

Being a single mom, I'm not always so strong. But last night, I was firm, so today I am proud.

Copyright 2009 Soozy G. Miller