What to blab about today?

I started reading The Shack. I've heard SO many wonderful things about it - that it's life-changing, phenomenal, etc., etc., so that piqued my interest. I'm a few chapters in, and something bad is about to happen. I'm rather dreading reading it. Anything where a child (especially a girl) is harmed makes me really emotional. Anyway, several of my friends are also reading it right now. Anyone else want to join in?

I've been trying to think of unique and interesting forms of punishment for my darling daughter. Let me explain before you think I'm a child abuser or something. My DD is 5-1/2 now, and she has got a will as strong as an ox. She knows how to manipulate situations, and she knows how to press buttons. Now, ideally I'd be all over her, straightening her out and giving her adequate consequences consistently. However, as a flawed person (have no doubt...I am), I am not motivated enough to be consistent. Half of the time, I just throw my arms up and say "Oh well." Or else I give her "One more time and then I'm gonna...." but never actually do anything.

All of you professional parents out there right now are shaking your head in righteousness. I know...I'm doing it too! But, that's life. That's just who I am, although I never thought I would be. So, my hubby and I were talking about it yesterday after a particularly trying day. I confessed to him that I don't want to dole out some of the punishments I know I should give. If I take away movies for a night, she'll drive me nuts. If I tell her she can't play with a friend, she'll want me to entertain her. Now, granted...if she's belligerent and seriously having issues, I would rein her in. We're talking small stuff....loads of small stuff though.

So, we worked out a few items that we could have in our pocket to use when things were going badly. Not on first offenses, but as my DH put it, "when she thumbs her nose at you and does what she wants." Exactly. When that will of hers is not budging.

So, I thought of

• writing sentences out
• going to bed an hour early
• spending 1 hour in her room
• doing a particularly challenging chore (i.e., unloading the dishwasher)

What are some good ideas?? I don't want boring old techniques like time-outs. I'm not opposed to spanking, but she gets out from under me so easy. Remember...I'm lazzzzzy. I require little energy to be expended. Oh gosh. Now I really feel like a slacker mom. ;)

I saw Batman today. Or...should I say "The Dark Knight." DH and I went on a date to see it, and he insisted on seeing it on an IMAX theater, so we forked over $25 just to get in and another $15 on snacks. Ugh. By the time we got in to pick out our seats, there were only a few seats in the front row. That meant we watched the whole things looking straight up and not being able to see the whole screen all at once. You also got way too many shots of Bruce Wayne's nostrils. Anyway, I was a little worried this movie would be too "dark." I enjoy horror movies, scary movies, suspenseful movies, but when we start dealing with evil/dark movies? I'm out. No way. So with Heath Ledger dying during this movie and just prior to that doing an interview during which he said, "to play this part I had to become evil." Ugh...it just creeped me out. Fortunately, it didn't give me the heebie jeebies. He was a phenomenal actor. They all did a great job in this movie. There were a few questions I had at the end - some story lines that didn't quite mesh, but oh well. We had a great time, and that's what counts. I ate WAY too much buttered popcorn.

I think we should have date night once a month. It's so nice to get out with no kids. I looked forward to it all weekend. I love my DH. :) I think I'll buy the bumper sticker.