If you can hear screaming . . . it's probably me!

I know this is nothing new to all you parents out there that our kids can be a handful. Actually they can be far more than that at times.

Well today it was one of those times for me.

When I think about my childhood, I marvel about how lucky I was to grow up in the 70's and 80's when technology was still in it's infancy. I was more content to read Judy Blume or create barbie houses and make up stories with my dolls than to sit glued to my Magnavox Odyssey game consol.

Not that those things didn't cause other issues, like me stealing money from my best friend to buy a Blueberry Muffin doll . . . but that's a story for another time.

Yesterday Kid #1 received a very generous gift card from his Aunt for his 6th Grade graduation. Now being the red-blooded, 11 1/2 yr old gamer that he is, he wanted to spend it on . . . you guessed it, video game equipment.

So this afternoon I took all three kids to Game Crazy. Kid #2 was even nice enough to forgo stopping at the grocery store for her lunch so her older brother could take care of the giftcard that was rapidly burning a hole in his pocket. When we got there, it turned out that everything he was looking for was either out of stock or on backorder. He was told by the sales associate that there would be more but he'd have to come back in a couple of days.

He wouldn't have any of it!

First he bugged me about his allowance he was owed and I told him I didn't have the papers in from of me so I didn't know how much he was owed. Then he started in on me about coming back to the store later today so he could look for something else. I told him if he dropped the attitude and changed his behavior I would consider it.

That wasn't good enough.

We left Game Crazy and went to the store because Kid #2 had been very patient. As we got out of the car, Kid #1 asks me if he can get something to drink. I told him as long as it wasn't soda that was fine. He suggested Gatorade, I said no (too much sugar). He asks if he can get anything and I told him yes, but nothing with sugar.

Get get in the store and what does he ask for? A diet soda.

At this point my blood pressure has shot up about 20 points and he's digging in to argue with me.

My arguement back at him was . . . when I give you an answer, accept it and move on. It doesn't mean to badger me until I change it to what you want to hear. Accept it and move on.

The thing is, it's not just him. It's all three of them. I know it's not necessarily the advanced technology that's doing this but I'm finally to the point where I wish I could destroy this concept of 'instant gratification' that is so ingrained in their heads. I need to destroy it or it's going to destroy me.

One of the many reasons why I left So. Cal. was because of this mindset. I never thought I was going to have to deal with it in my own home.

So after many apologies from all three, they're outside right now swimming in their little pool, enjoying the finally smoke-free air, and getting along.

It's these moments I have to hold onto and remind myself it was all worth it.

Sorry for the venting . . . thanks for listening. :)