Strange things into my head at those moments--- you know, those moments, when the limits have been reached and surpassed and I am simply trying to hold my tongue and keep us all alive until bedtime--- things I am starting to see as red flags, or warning signs. They fall into different categories:
Escapism
If I were wearing tennis shoes, could I make it to the woods before they noticed I was gone?
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| Hey look! It's after 8! |
The Wild imaginary Problem Solving
Maybe I should just reset all the clocks so they think it is bedtime.
I wonder if I pretend I am deaf for awhile… then will they learn to work out their problems?
Is it really wrong to use duct tape?
Socially acceptable fit-throwing
It is better to get on the treadmill than to run for the woods.
It is better to Turbo Jam than to throw a real fit in front of the children.
Self-soothing in the Kitchen
Is there any of that cheesy gooey salty stuff left in the fridge?
If I eat ice cream in the garage will they catch me?
Giving up
What will they do if I act like a two year old too? It might be fun to roll around on the floor and cry for a few minutes…
Those are just a few of my red flags. What are yours?