consa-kenses

(consequence)

I'm certainly not the perfect parent.  I am guilty of being impatient, easily frustrated, easily overwhelmed and short tempered with my adorable but mischievous children.  But when I have my head together enough to be the kind of parent that I want to be, I think I must be on the right track.  Evidence:

Butterfly and Ladybug were taking a shower in my bathroom while I sorted laundry in the closet.  The glass was fogged so I couldn't see them clearly but could hear them playing.  I hear the slap and then the brief cry and then...
Ladybug: "You get in corner! look at wall!....now come 'ere! what you do was naughty?"
Butterfly giggled and then responded dutifully, "I'm sorry I hit you."
But apparently Ladybug did not want to skip all the steps. "No, that was naughty.  you make naughty choice, you get a consa-kense! you go time out. you under-sand? now you say sorry."
Butterfly: "I'm sorry."
Ladybug: "why you sorry?"
Butterfly, "I'm sorry I hit you."
Ladybug: "now say 'no hit.'"
Butterfly, "we don't hit."
Then for some reason, Ladybug hit Butterfly!  Butterfly giggled and said, "you don't hit me! we have to hug!" Then hugging dissolved into giggling and more playing.