Dads are better at some things

Everyone is out and gone for spring break but Riley is stuck at home. He has been spoiled rotten over the past few weeks. Today his tutor is coming in the afternoon. I tell Riley it is time to clean up the model parts and make room at the dining room table for his school work. You would think I was torturing him by the way he responds.



What? clean up the model? It can't be touched!!. It wont fit back in the box he tells me. BS. I tell him to make a tray out of the box and carry it all up to his room it is time to do the homework he has blown off for two days. He pouts. He carries one small item upstairs and then stays there in his room, leaving the mess at the table.



I pile all the pieces into the box. They all fit. I call Riley back down to carry it to his room. The audacity, I have touched his model. Melt down, more time in his room refusing to speak, refusing to do his work and prepare for the coming teacher. I contemplate canceling the teacher, but then Riley wins. Wrong word, its not wins exactly, but that he would be sidelined from reality. He will get better and continue on. He needs to take advantage of the teacher and this opportunity.



I also mentally blame this shopping spree and continual reception of presents for the little king. I know its hard not to want to make things better with gifts. But Riley needs to know that there is also a time and place to play with them. Now it is time for school work.



So, rather than losing my temper or yelling at Riley, I call his father. Tom will diplomatically speak to Riley about his future and the importance of his studying. At least I hope he will. All I know is that dang model is in the middle of my dining room table making a mess,and the teacher is coming to work with Riley right in that very spot. Tom bought it for him . I know its a guy thing, I'll let Tom work it out and I will go to my zen place.

Tom calls back. I explain that Riley is having a mini melt down. His teacher is coming, he has homework and does not want to stop working on his model. I ask him to diplomatically speak to Riley. I don't know what he says to the boy, but Riley calmly comes downstairs and begins to work on his homework.

I offer to make the boys a big breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes and toast, to let everyone know there are no hard feelings and all is forgiven. They eat it up. Riley does about a half hour of homework and then needs a nap to digest the big meal. No problem, the model is put away in his room and the table is ready for his teacher. He has made an effort on his work. I tell him if he is not awake when the teacher comes I will wake him.

Trevor plays wizards 101. I tell him, he has one semester left to bring his grades up to acceptable levels. If he doesn't do it I am hiring the teacher for him also for the summer. I have finally found someone, I am not going to lose her or the opportunity. If I tried to teach the boys it would be a battle. It would make Tom cranky to come home to conflict every night. Its much better to hire a tutor and have family peace.