(Someone has been bitten by the bloggin' bug)

This week, and last, has been a difficult one with Russell. Usually Russell is agreeable and pleasant, but, for some reason this week, he has been VERY disobedient, whiny, and we have also had an issue with lying. Yikes!

Sunday was my breaking point. Sunday was the day that I took away Russell's right to have treats of ANY kind, the day that he found out he had to go to bed 30 minutes early every night for a week, and the day that he was told he would not be going outside to play with his friends for the week (which has been no big deal since it has been so rainy and cold).

Sound extreme?

Sometimes extreme measures must be taken.

Russell was not thrilled with his punishment(s). He was down right angry at me for punishing him period, but each day he expresses how upset he is that Max is allowed a cookie after supper, or that Max is not made to go to bed early also. He thinks he is undergoing the worst punishment known to any 7 year old kid.

It wasn't until this morning as we were doing some reading on the Aztecs (for history lessons. This chapter could not have come at a better time for Russell!), that he realized he didn't have it so bad.

The two of us sat on the couch at 8:15 am, while Max slept soundly and R.C. was off to school, and read a chapter on the punishments that Aztec children had to endure if they were disobedient. Russell's eyes grew wider by the second as he read out loud that "bad" kids were poked with cactus needles or told to stand, for 1 hour, in ice cold water as punishment. The one that made him stop reading and look at me and declare, "I will go to bed early anytime, never eat treats and never play outside again if I don't ever have to do that!" was when he read that kids were held, with their eyes propped open, over a fire of burning jalapeno peppers so the peppery smoke would burn their eyes.

Early bed, no treats, and no playing outside seem like a cake walk to Russell now. He couldn't wait for Max to wake up so he could share with him what he had just read about. Max's only response was, "mom and dad would not do that to us...". (Thanks Max!)

Today has been a good day for Russell. He has been doing what he is told to do and not whining. He even saw on the clock that it said 7:25 pm, and marched off to bed without me saying a word to him. He has been talking about the Aztecs all day and I am sure that he learned, from his reading today, that he doesn't have it as bad as he may think.

Thank you ancient Aztec parents for showing my boy that his punishment is not as extreme as he may have originially thought it was.