I hate this part

This morning Cathy took Emma Grace to work with her while I ran some appointments for Clean and Green. I picked Emma Grace up from church at about noon and we went home. When school ended back in June, one of the things that Cathy wanted to make sure of was that Emma Grace continued reading during the summer. So she signed Emma Grace up for a summer book club through life way and Emma Grace has to read 100 books before school starts. These are great books and not only help Emma Grace with her reading but the majority are books with bible stories, so she is getting to learn a lot about people in the bible too. This also helps us to limit her TV time. This morning Cathy explained to Emma Grace that she had to read 10 books today and clean up her play area when she got home, and all this had to be done before she could start watching any TV. She of course said "Ok Mommy, but you could tell the full effect had not really hit her because she did not have to do it right then and there, she still had play time at the church first.

As I said I picked up Emma Grace at church about noon, she saw me through the door and came running to let me in and hugged me and told me how glas she was that to see me. This is standard procedure for her, she always does this, and it always makes us feel so good.

Once in the van and heading home though, her attitude began to change, it took me a little bit to figure it out, but as soon as she said the words "Daddy, this is starting to not be a good day" I knew what was going on in her little mind. She realized as we were driving that there would be no TV once we got home. There would be cleaning and book reading to do.

She continued to whine and complain about how this day was turning out, and I of course explained how you have to take the good day's with the bad. This went back and forth for a little bit until I finally said "that's enough, I don't want to hear another word" followed by the "I SAID NOT ANOTHER WORD" to which she folded her arms and poke that lower lip out as far as she could. And I added, "you better get happy real quick young lady or the rest of your week is going to be filled with bad days" this as we were headed up the steps and walking into the front door.

Once inside the door, Emma Grace decided to really show her displeasure and kicked off her flip flops in a manner that they went flying up about 10 feet in the air. I then looked at her and said "you are this close to a spanking, (holding my thumb and index finger real close) now get to reading" and apparently deciding that she needed to show out a little more, she then banged her hand on the couch cushion as she climbed up on to the couch to take her place at her "desk"

So, I went and got the paddle, came back downstairs, and as I was approaching her she said, "what's that" and I said "you are getting a spanking for the way youa re acting" and I then grabbed her and gave her one swat across the rear end. Well she did commence to bawling, let me tell you.

I went back up stairs and grabbed the garbage bag to take it to the street and as I walked down the stairs, I told her, "I am taking the garbage out to the street, when I get back you had better be done crying and reading your books" I said this as I continued to walk and she said, "I just like it better when Mommy...." and the rest I didn't hear as I was out thte door.

When I returned she indeed had stopped crying and was reading her books. After about an hour or so I allowed her to watch some TV as she ate her lunch, and she was back to being the usual sweet Emma Grace, asking me questions with that sweet voice, answering yes sir no sir, and all. And on the couple of times I had to say no to a questions she would answer "OK Daddy"

After her lunch I came down the stairs and she was busy cleaning her play area, and I told her to turn the TV off and get back to reading, she explained that she was cleaning now because the reading takes so long and that she wanted to ahve the cleaning part done so she wouldn't have to worry about it. So she finished the cleaning and then went back to reading. A little while later I came back down and had her read a couple books to me. After reading I explained to her why I spanked her, and explained to her about her attitude and life not being all fun and games and all that stuff a parent would day.

She then looked at me and said' "Daddy, I just like it better when Mommy spanks me because she holds me and cuddles me and talks to me after she spanks me." And I in my brilliant parental wisdom said, "well that's the difference between me and Mommy, we don"t always do things the same way." And we don't, I prefer to talk to her a little while after her punishment, Cathy I guess prefers to do it immediately. I don;t think either way is wrong or right, just a preference.

I do know this, my Dad was right. Whenever he spanked me he always say before doing so, "Son this hurts me more than it hurts you" to which I always said, under my breath, "ain't no way"
but I know now what he means. It does. I HATE THIS PART.