Two Dollars

I'm always trying to be a more patient mom. Sometimes without much luck.

The other day Clay was playing the piano. I could hear a bunch of "stop its" and "quit doing thats" coming from the basement, but I thought I would just let them work it out. Before long Clay came upstairs, clearly upset. He had that "I'm gonna cry because of what was happening to me and if I don't tell you right now, I just might not live another minute" look.

I stopped him before he had two words out...

"Whoa...if this is a tattle, you can tell me, but it will cost you two dollars."

"But mom, Sam..."

"Hey, if you want to tattle on Sam, it's gonna cost you...two dollars...go get it then I'll listen."

"But...{eyes brimming with tears}...I'll go get it...it's just that {blah, blah, blah}" {big brother picking on little brother.}

I patiently listen, tell him that's too bad, and send him to get my two dollars.

He was back a couple minutes later with the money.

Sam comes storming upstairs..."mom, Clay..."

"Whoa...if this is a tattle, you can tell me, but it will cost you two dollars."

"Hmmph" as he turns around and heads back down stairs.

Must not have been worth the money.

Quite a while later Sam comes running up the stairs. I'm sitting on the couch with the little kids. Sam has a wad of dollar bills in his hand and he starts dishing them into my hand as he says..."Clay did..., and Clay did..., and Clay is not ..."

I just started laughing. So, it was worth the money this time?