Passing The Baton

Okay, I am going to give you another prime example of my exemplary parenting skills. I have mentioned before that I am not a yeller. I don't. I do however, on occasion go into the bathroom or the mudroom or sometimes even just turn my back around and silently mouth the words shut up (although in my version, edited here, there is another choice word in that little phrase). While seemingly childish, it really helps. Even though no one but me knows that I have said this it gives me quite a bit of satisfaction. Anyway, this morning Saige and Chase just started off on the wrong foot. I have to say, he started it. He was just getting under her skin for no reason. I was in a really good mood. Had already been to the gym and was quite jacked up on caffeine, music blaring, really in no mood to hear them bickering over whether we returned the report cards to the school or not. Chase was finished eating so I sent him upstairs and told him to collect the water cups from the sides of their beds. Oh, he grumbled that he had to get both, "She's got two legs." he said under his breath. She was just about to respond when I decided to share my secret with her. I said, "Instead of reacting to him and giving him the satisfaction of your anger. When he's not looking just silently mouth the words shut up. That way you haven't said them aloud (cause they're not allowed to say that) but it will make you feel better. I promise." She smiled at me. "Really? You think?" she said. "Oh, I know, I do it to you guys all the time." I said with a smirk. She grinned at me, then she went upstairs cause it was taking Chase so long. She came back down and he was still grumbling and she said, "I already did it twice, it does work." Nice.