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I had to take a leave of absence from my computer because it was making me mad.  I think we have reached an understanding.  At least temporarily.  So here we are.  

We have had a lot of "life" happen in the last month or so, but it's hard to nail it all down in a blog post.  Mostly, I think it's growing pains.  Our boys are growing out of the little boy stage and are pushing to find that next set of boundaries.  The girls are no longer babies.  They are owning the toddler stage entirely now.  It's weird.  I'm still deciding if I like it or not.  

Because I still think of them as babies, I am beginning to realize we might be giving the girls too much freedom to be sassy.  In all too obvious ways, it's starting to bite back.  

Recently, they have been keeping each other awake at bedtime telling each other off.  

"Carter, you rude!"

"No!  I not rude, you so rude!"

No, I not!  You so rude!"

And back and forth they go, louder and louder until we finally intervene.

Emerson has more attitude in one look than I had in my entire teen years.  And although she will cry if Ross so much as tells her "no," she isn't afraid to talk back when I tell her she's in trouble. 

"Nope," she quips after I tell her she's in time-out.  Three-teen is no joke. 

Carter isn't a pushover either.  She's always getting into some kind of mischief.  Today she was making a mess in the bathroom, but when I told her to stop for the third time she just let out an exasperated, "Sheesh!" This is not an expression I use.  Despite where she picked it up, she nailed the timing and emphasis.  It's hard to discipline when you are laughing.    

Where we are too lenient with the girls, we are probably too hard on Sawyer.  He's the oldest, so I suppose that's his burden to bear as we try to figure out this parenting gig. Recognizing this, I decided to compromise with him this week on a battle that had lasted the better part of a morning.  When I explained to him my solution to our situation, I got my reward.

"Mom, you're too nice.  Your face belongs on a Christmas card!"

My job here is done.  



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