game on, part 2

keepin it real. day two down of maggie boot camp. i think things are going better than i expected. she went to time out once today for a little meltdown. she then hopped up and knew it was time to be nice again. she did cry a couple of times tonight, but i did give her a tiny bit of leeway with her cast, the rain, no swim lessons like the siblings, tired... etc. i feel bad when it is raining and she is locked up indoors. then when the rain stops and everyone runs out to play, she can't because her cast might get wet. i think we have a ways to go, but we are on the right path. i bought a new cinderella cup for her, and told her yesterday if she didn't need any time outs today she would get a little surprise. she made it until 5 pm, went to time out and i could honestly tell her "that's sad, i hope you can get it tomorrow night." delayed gratification. something we are pretty bad at over here, but working towards.
i also threw the other kids under the love and logic bus tonight. i told them, "i leave for swim lessons in 14 minutes. i do hope you will all be dressed, with towels and in the van then." i hopped in the van right on time, of course miss molly was already there reading her book. ashton looked up from the driveway and busted it up to his room to change, ran down with the wrong shirt on inside out and no jacket (it was chilly tonight). i said, "glad you caught me buddy." carson had got himself dressed already, but was at the neighbors playing ball. i backed out of the driveway and he sprinted to catch me. im sure the neighbors thought i was being mean, but that is ok. my kids will learn to get themselves ready and out the door on time when it is really important in their lives to do so.
it was still chaos here before bed. im not sure i can fix that - just a lot of happy bodies chattering and hungry from swimming. i just need to tune out the excess noise and roll with it sometimes.

on another note, i found out today a girl i know has just been delivered the blow of a lifetime. her two year old son was diagnosed with renal cancer. please keep this sweet family in your prayers, as will i. it just reaffirms that if God has blessed me so greatly to have five children, five healthy and active children, he must have a plan in place for them. that means it is my responsibility to raise them to be able to fulfill that plan. no halfway parenting, to give it my all. all while keeping in mind i am only human, of course.