[aMarylandfamily]

Have seen many of you refer to having "sit ins' vs. "sit outs" from activities and are having our first today ... boy are they not fun. Our 12 year old wishes to do little or nothing as a family and balked today at a family activity planned for tonight when the house he was staying at cancelled and the nastier he got the more consistent I became ... thus - fine, we don't have to go but you have a choice - go with us happily or stay home with us happily (as either works tonight for us) and still have an hour or so before I expect I will hear "let's go" but it sure hurt saying "I can't go to the movies" and just now to a friend at the door who seldom gets time to play (which made be feel bad, but ...) "I can't ... I can't". Did get an apology about an hour ago but not sure if that was to manipulate remainder of the day or was sincere but either way my "sit in" holds. Wish us luck.

Thanks for the advice ... know it will help with the next time but as I said the first "is not fun"!

[lucyjoy]

One of the nonfun parts of being a great mom-good luck

[aMarylandfamily]

After about an hour of pouting and spouting off with no reaction giving him what he wanted he settled down, apologized and even agreed he would like to go with us and would cooperate. Big step for him from all three points ... and even more amazing although he did find some friends where we went he did enjoy being with us and told us he figured if he whined enough that we would try and talk another parent into letting their child have change in plans and go with us ... not!!! Family time can be just as important as other things!

Just think how bored we would be without our children!