Popcorn

The boys wanted a snack last night so I fixed popcorn while they were getting ready for bed.

Of course I hear yelling so I go to the bottom of the stairs and see their bedroom light flicking on and off. One wants it on, one off, they are told to leave it on and when the popcorn is done I headed up there to see how they were doing.

Eli was completely ready (yeah for big kids) but was copping an attitude. He said, "I don't want any popcorn because Noah is being so bossy! I only want to study." He picked graph paper and went downstairs to work.

Noah was half ready, so I count that a win! I helped him finish and we went downstairs to eat popcorn.

Meanwhile Simon has been with my sister trying to hold the bowl himself, because he would live on popcorn if you would let him.

Eli sat at the table making letters in the tiny, and I mean tiny, squares of the graph paper. Then he got mad because he couldn't reach the popcorn. I politely explained to him that he had told me he didn't want any so I didn't think it needed to be within his reach. Then he said, "Well, I do want some." So we scooted it over to him, but not everyone could reach so we had to keep moving it around.

The next time he went to reach for some and couldn't, he got mad and "x'd" out all of his letters and then scribbled all over his paper. I told him all he had to do was ask and we'd pass it, then all was well.

Until Noah was holding the bowl and Eli went to reach for it and Noah jerked it back so he couldn't reach the popcorn. Eli burst out in tears, copped that same attitude and said, "I don't want any popcorn!" Since I had already warned him about the attitude I told him to go to bed, and he went screaming all the way.

Then, Noah was pretty satisfied with himself since he had the popcorn and Eli had to go to bed. I turn to him and say, "That was unacceptable to pull the popcorn away from Eli, go to bed!" More screaming.

About 20 seconds later, Simon starts crying. I think because everyone else was. As I head upstairs with him I turn to my sister and say, "Three, ages 4 and under, maybe not the best idea!"

As I'm tucking the boys in Noah says, "But Mom we need our vitamins!" I dole out the vitamins and go to put Simon down. Noah again, sitting up as soon as I turn the light off, "Mom we didn't say our prayers!"
"Then say them Noah!"
Eli pipes in with "I don't want to say any!" with that same attitude, which got him a flip. More crying.

Noah folds his hands and says, through wimpers, "Dear God, please help me to not be bad! Amen."

In the morning after the alarm went off, but before we got up, Noah comes in and says, "Mom, did you guys eat all the popcorn?"
"We sure did!"
"Ah! I wanted some!"
"Well, maybe I can make some more tonight and you can be kind to Eli. What do you think?"
"Good idea Mom!"

Lesson learned?