The Day the Eagle Landed

Not an actual picture of the eagle, or bedroom or popcorn

I have been so fortunate as a mother. I truly have been blessed with some of the most lovely human beings. Other than having some intense conversations with my children, I haven't had to really discipline them too intensely. They are kind, respectful, humorous and inquisitive. I am so so blessed.

One of the two times that I have had to ground a child is one of my favorite stories to date to tell.

Other than the one time the same child used spray adhesive instead of Windex to clean her tv (that was natural consequences at its best).

She was 7 at the time and I had decided to go back to school - online of course. I hired a nanny to watch my children while I studied and while my then husband was at work. Everything was quiet and calm and I studied away learning about humans and their fascinating minds.

I always told my children that if they messed up, it's ok. We all mess up, that is how we learn. But if they LIED to me, that was going to be a huge issue. You would get in way more trouble for lying than you would for whatever the mess was.

So I finished up my studies and went out to send the nanny on her way and she very tenatively said "so, we have an issue". Okay....?

"Well (child) was playing in the toy room and when I went to check on her there was a hole in the screen and popcorn all over the room."

Mind you, this is a SECOND STORY bedroom. I looked around the room and assessed the surroundings, there was definitely a hole in the screen, a pair of scissors next to the screen and popcorn still on the floor.

"okay."

"There's more. When I asked (child) about it she said she knew EXACTLY what happened. There was an eagle that was watching her and saw her popcorn. The eagle REALLY wanted the popcorn and flew in and broke the screen and knocked over the popcorn"

"(Child) I think we all know the truth, do you want to tell the truth?"

"Mom, it was a weally big eagle!!"

"(Child) you get one more chance, or you're going to be grounded. Literally from everything."

"I pwomise that's what happened" she said as her face went flush.

"Okay." I picked up the scissors that still had parts of screen on them and asked her if the eagle used the scissors. She started crying. I started crying. She was indeed grounded from everything and had to earn back everything that she wanted to do outside of schoolwork and mealtime.

But damn, if that isn't one of my favorite parenting stories.

Now, this same "child" is one of the most honest, noble, courageous, encouraging and kindest people you could every meet. I am so lucky.