J and K love animals. Dogs especially.
They have been bugging me to adopt one since a long time ago.
But I turned them down. Reason: too much responsibility.
Their life took a turn for the better when our neighbor brought home a Rottweiler puppy last February.
J and K immediately befriended the neighbor with the intention to get to play with the dog.
When you put kids and puppies together, exciting things happen. They mix very well because both are playful.
That’s almost how J and K spend their evening ever since.
But there’s one problem though. They are so excited playing with “Happy” that they forget to go home for shower and dinner. Things would get out of hand if you let them.
It’s time for me to lay down the rules. I have no objections for them to mingle with the black puppy but they have to come home by 7 pm.
The first evening after the rules were announced, J and K were very punctual. I thought my trick worked!
It didn’t. When second evening came, they got too excited again and forgot about time. They gave all kinds of excuses: no clock, we forgot, etc.
Naturally, being a hot-tempered father, I was furious that they didn’t keep their promise.
I tried to keep my cool and gave them another lecture with a stern face (I can look pretty fierce sometimes).
I told them if they want to enjoy the benefit of going over to the neighbor’s house and play with the dog, they have to come home by 7 pm. I didn’t force them to adhere to the rule. I gave them a choice to come home by 7pm or later.
However, if they choose to come home after 7 pm, I will go ahead with dinner myself – without them.
“Since dinner is the only time the family sits together and shares the day, I hope you will not want to miss it,” I continued, trying to get them over to my side.
I asked them, “Do you want to have dinner alone?”
Both J and K shook their heads together without hesitation.
I hope they see the importance of family dinner and keeping promises.
I think they do.
After the conversation, J and K never late for home. It’s even better for J, she comes home 5 minutes earlier.
It’s has been over a few weeks now since our conversation about the dog. And they never break the promise.
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The Nonconformist’s Guide to Parenting
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