Shannon the poor victim
Earlier on, we had a little incident involving someone throwing a container full of ABCs.
Actually right away I knew it was Nigel because immediately he started to say "I'm sorry Daddy". But for some reason I turned around and asked Nigel and Shannon, who were sitting side by side, "Who threw that?". Nigel said "Mei Mei". He repeated the same thing when I asked again. So I declared that I would smack Shannon.
Suddenly he said "Mei Mei and me" - a small sense of guilt eating into him. So I asked, "Mei Mei or you?", and he said "Mei Mei" - whatever feelings he had 3 seconds ago completely deserting him. So I smaked Shannon on the wrist gently - which made her cry very loudly, probably out of confusion and helplessness, since she wasn't able to voice her innocence.
Celest had to force it out of him later and we punished him eventually by not reading him his nightly bedtime story. Shannon, the poor victim, had to be consoled and reassured that she was still loved and understood.
Nigel is beginning to develop his people-manipulation skills - in both good and bad ways. Letting things like these happen and evolve into lessons is interesting and educational. But poor Shanny had to be the unwilling victim tonight.
Actually right away I knew it was Nigel because immediately he started to say "I'm sorry Daddy". But for some reason I turned around and asked Nigel and Shannon, who were sitting side by side, "Who threw that?". Nigel said "Mei Mei". He repeated the same thing when I asked again. So I declared that I would smack Shannon.
Suddenly he said "Mei Mei and me" - a small sense of guilt eating into him. So I asked, "Mei Mei or you?", and he said "Mei Mei" - whatever feelings he had 3 seconds ago completely deserting him. So I smaked Shannon on the wrist gently - which made her cry very loudly, probably out of confusion and helplessness, since she wasn't able to voice her innocence.
Celest had to force it out of him later and we punished him eventually by not reading him his nightly bedtime story. Shannon, the poor victim, had to be consoled and reassured that she was still loved and understood.
Nigel is beginning to develop his people-manipulation skills - in both good and bad ways. Letting things like these happen and evolve into lessons is interesting and educational. But poor Shanny had to be the unwilling victim tonight.