I shouldn't laugh....

Do you ever have those moments when you think to yourself, "I really, really love my kid. However, I don't always have to like them right now." Yes, insert the three year old. Oh, Joshua. I love him so, so much! But wow, this three year old thing is giving us a run for our money! For example, I had the first experience ever of dragging my flailing child out of a store screaming the other day since I refused to let him get a drink out of the "other" water fountain as I'm trying to hold him up to a fountain with one arm and balance my return and his sister on the other hip.

Well, we have had the privilege, slightly sadistic I know, of getting the last laugh with some of his little tantrums. Insert the two following stories:

• Joshua was enjoying running through the sprinkler the other evening. I told him his shoes could not get wet so set them to the side. This worked until I said it was time to go inside. That's when the first shoe rocketed directly into the sprinkler. "Joshua, move your buns inside! We don't put clean shoes in the sprinkler. They will be wet for tomorrow." I got a sly look and then in slow motion watched the other one fly that way. Yep, time out. I kept my cool and just told him to go. The fit that ensued was world class and to the stairs he went. Sadie was on my hip and thought the theatrics were hilarious. She was just beaming and laughing. Joshua's response, "Stop laughing Sadie! It's not funny! I'm in time out!" This being repeated several times only egged her on more. I had to remove myself so I could laugh:). That's what you get for being a pill, kid.

• Some may say this is a bit cruel, Art and I feel he needs to learn after being told things a few times though. While using the restroom, I went to the door to ask if he was finished to find the door was locked.

"Joshua, don't lock the bathroom door."

"Why?"

"Because I said"

"But you and Daddy can lock it."

"That's because we are Mommy and Daddy. Finish going, unlock the door and don't do it again."

----Several minutes pass and I hear crying in the bathroom---

"What wrong, Joshua?" (stated slightly annoyed)

"I can't get out! I can't unlock it!"

"WELL.....Your were able to lock it before, so you need tofigure it out. I'm not helping you!"

"But you have one of those little unlocker things. Can you use it?"

"Sorry, I said you need to figure this one out since you did it when you know your not supposed to.

"BUT MOM!!!"

--Insert me chuckling and an even stronger fit in the bathroom, but he eventually got out. And it only took him a minute to figure it out. AND more importantly, he hasn't done it again since.

HIS "I'm up to something" LOOK

AND THE SWEET BOY LOOK

(By the way, as we sip on our breakfast smoothies, chatting, and typing, my little man just told me he loves me soooo much....kind of feeling guilty now! )