lesliepear: (Default)
Leslie Gottlieb ([personal profile] lesliepear) wrote2006-04-04 10:12 pm

"Early morning April 4...."

As someone mentioned while waiting for the bus, this is the 38th anniversary of the tragic death of Martin Luther King. (The post's title is from the song Pride, by U2 - although the asassination didn't occur in the morning, it was supposed to be mourning in the lyric someone claims ). Anyway, it was a sad day for America. I personally don't remember that day well. I do remember we were on vacation in Miami and I at 6 years old was upset that I couldn't go into the ocean due to jelly fish. I vaugely remember being in the hotel lobby and hearing about the event, but it didn't register with me at all.

Tonight, I'm in the bedroom and Alan and Mark are asleep on the couch. Alan was way grouchy today, he's been up too late at night (10:30 is not a bedtime for a 3 year old who should be up by 7:30 or so.) I tried to get him to bed earlier, but couldn't convince Mark to help. Alan is way too addicted to tv and I really hope by summer we can eat and then play or swim before bed - not having to time bedtime till after Sponge Bob is over would be a relief.

I think I wanted to write about something else also, but I forgot. I have to go get the laundry in the dryer. I wouldn't do it so late, but SOMEONE hogged the dryer in front of my load. So I'm stuck drying now.

[identity profile] stitchinthyme.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Alan is way too addicted to tv and I really hope by summer we can eat and then play or swim before bed - not having to time bedtime till after Sponge Bob is over would be a relief.

Maybe it's because I'm not a parent, but I do remember being a kid and how my mother dealt with me, and I don't understand this. YOU are the parent. If you want him to watch less TV, then make him watch less TV. It'll be hard at first, and he won't like it much, of course, but you're the one who's supposed to be making the rules. And if Mark won't back you up, the two of you should seriously sit down and discuss how you want to raise your kid, and maybe look into parenting classes or counseling if you can't agree.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but it really does sound like you're letting a 3(?)-year-old make the rules, and that just doesn't seem right.

[identity profile] lesliepear.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been trying to talk to Mark about this, but he doesn't really back me up which is frustrating. It doesn't help that we are in such a small space and Alan won't use his room for anything (play or sleep - he's always pretty much in the living room).

I really hope the housing bubble here bursts soon or one of our jobs changes so I can force a reevaluation of things.

[identity profile] stitchinthyme.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure it must suck to have a spouse who won't back you up. But in the long run, it's Alan who's the one who will be hurt by bad parenting practices -- maybe if you approach it from that angle, Mark will actually listen.

[identity profile] lesliepear.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
and thanks for picking up on my frustration in my post :)