Who is in charge????

Where is Nanny Jo when I need her?!?

I have been thinking about this lately and today it came to my attention again.

Let me preface this by saying that in no way, shape or from do I think my kids anywhere close to being perfect. They are not exactly pillars of behavioral excellence, and it is probably a stretch to even call them well behaved. That being said, I about lost my mind today while at my niece's ballet class.

I had my 2 kids and 2 of my twin sister's children today. I got to take my sister's daughter to her ballet class. (which by the way was ADORABLE) I think 3 and 4 year olds are the cutest. You can have my newborns. Gimmie a 3 or 4 year old any day. They are funny little people. I digress....

Anyway, her older daughter who is 6, Jack, Riley and myself had to wait in the church basement while the ballet class was in session. This is when I almost went coo-coo for cocopuffs. (a favorite saying of my husband)

Jack and his cousin had his Leapster and some books to fight over and they were also threatened to stay on their bottoms unless they had to go potty. I couldn't make Riley stay in her stroller for 45 minutes, so I let her out to wander around. Thankfully, the threat of no Happy Meals after ballet kept the older kids sitting, so I just had to worry about Riley.

Keep in mind, we are in a space the size of a (small) church lobby and a hallway with about 3 small classrooms on each side. So here we were sitting on the floor against the wall, and suddenly we had to suck in our fingers and toes because a kid about 8 or 9 years old was rolling around the lobby on those roller skate shoes(how old do I sound?!?) while his mom was cheering him on"oooohhhh*Bobby* you are suuuuuuch a wonderful skaaaaater"! While blabbing on her hands-free wireless phone about how she"CANT BELIEVE that so and so is buying a house in THAT neighborhood...oohhh *Bobby* good skating, honey."

UM...Hello...hang up on your friend because the clue phone is ringing....

Meanwhile there were a few toys lying around and Riley picked up a big bouncy ball. All of a sudden a freight-train lookin' little toddler ran over, plowed her over and grabbed her ball. Not a big deal. I have a 4 year old, for goodness sake, Riley gets plenty of "rough play". The second time *Johnny* knocked her over, she did a face-plant into the linoleum. OK, now I am starting to get irritated, but again, this is not my own kid's venue, so I am not gonna start shoving toddlers. The third time Johnny knocked her over (OK, she is a slow learner) I was starting to get upset. The daddy of this kid looked at me and laughed and shrugged. "Johnny really doesn't understand being gentle. Aggression is how he asserts himself. It is so great when kids can express themselves. He DOES have a big sister, you know, he is just used to being the boy. ha ha-ho-ho" (can't you just see me laughing along with him.......Not)

The funny part of this is that little Johnny got himself stuck in the elevator when he kept pushing the button to open the door.(it is just a 2 story building...don't be worried) I was actually more afraid that they were gonna call 911 when Riley pushed the button and I smacked her hand and said NO-NO. AAAAAHHHH Child abuse!!!!!

I am sorry. I just don't get it. My son and daughter didn't know what "gentle" is either until we took the time to TEACH them what it means. Riley will whack her babies in the head or throw them on the floor and when we gasp in mock shock, then she will pick them up and stroke their heads and say "sowwy baby." at least it is a start.

The last straw was when another 8 or 9 year girl decided to start doing cartwheels in the lobby. Her mom was actually clapping for her. I am all about building my children's tumbling skills and self esteem(to an extent), but how 'bout in your own backyard....not in my personal space. It was wierdly ackward because I actually felt guilty for not cheering for her perfect cartwheels, even when she kicked over my coffee. Her Mom said "hee hee... I guess I shouldn't have given her those non-organic fruit snacks this morning." Yeah, I think maybe you should concentrate more on their BEHAVIOR and not whether or not her fruit snacks are organic.

I don't know. Maybe it is just me.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I am tired of feeling like a weirdo for trying to discipline my kids especially in public. I try to teach them good and bad and how to treat other people. Usually I feel like a huge failure, but today with a 4 year old and a 6 year old sitting still(ish) for 45 minutes, I really felt like I was doing OK.(I know, Happy Meals are a HUGE incentive)

In the words of Jack, I am the boss of my kids. Please try to be the boss of yours. YOU ARE IN CHARGE! There is your public service announcement for the week.

*NAMES CHANGED TO PROTECT THE BRATTY*