Good cop vs. bad cop

I was reminded of the "roles" we play in life while watching a VERY guilty pleasure of mine, Dexter. I tend to be the bad cop and the CFO is the good cop. Thankfully for the Triplets, we balance each other out. If it was just me the Triplets would be using sippy cups until kindergarten. If it wasn't for me we wouldn't have a back up plan when things go wrong or a back up to the back up plan or a stocked diaper bag:)

My most recent "bad cop" situations have involved my little angel, Addison. She has gotten quite bossy lately. I have no idea where she gets that from:) I have always let her amend her initial "requests" to make them nicer but I have had enough. I finally realized that she knows the game and is bending the rules. You know what I mean....

• Addison:"GET MY MILK!"
• Me: "what do you say?"
• Addison: "Pleeeeeeeease" with a big.... well, she is smiling but it is a.... you know the kind of "grin" on her face that I am talking about:)

So now if the first request is not nice then it is a "no go." This happened twice the other night at dinner....

• Addison: "PICK IT UP!" (food she dropped)
• Me: "No mam, you did not ask nicely"
• Addison: "Pleeeeeeease"
• Me: "No mam, you did not ask nicely the first time"
• Addison: "Pleeeeeeease, Pleeeeeeease, Pleeeeeeease, Pleeeeeeease, Pleeeeeeease, Pleeeeeeease, Pleeeeeeease"
• Me: "No mam, you did not ask nicely the first time"
• Addison: "I am sad" She then put her forehead on the table.
• Me: I tried my best to stifle my laughter.

The same thing played out when she dropped her fork. So begins a new learning curve, for both of us. These Triplets could put some of the best PSYOPS people to shame. They are masters of manipulation. I wonder who they get that from? :)

We do sometimes switch roles just to keep the kids on their toes but I think the "heavy" must be the one that stays at home. You can't have the "good cop" undermine you but they can "take it from here" from time to time. The sad fact is that I am probably the tough one because I got away with so much as a kid. The CFO on the other hand... well, let's just say we came from VERY different backgrounds:)

Some more pics from the "family" Birthday party.

Nothing says chaos like 3 year old triplets, 3 1/2 year old twins, a five year old, a two year old, a two month old and two dogs:)




Want a good gift for kids? Buy a mask!

It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.
Dale Carnegie

Al