Time out for the official grownup

Ok. Many of you know this point, some have yet to cross the threshold. Its the point at which you can no longer truly call yourself a kid and now are an official grown-up. For me this happened today.

Our day usually begins at 10:45 where we catch a ride with our driver to the orphanage. Once there Austin's group is usually outside for their daily walk. We walk around the courtyard until we find him. Sometimes we walk with his group other times just with him. Usually it involves some just the three of us time.

During this time Austin likes to play a game called "I am going to push your boundaries as far as I can". Usually he walks where he isn't supposed to go. Or he runs away and wants to be chased, etc.

We come inside where we pull at least 3 layers of clothing off of him, rather he takes it off himself because there is no helping him. We then go into a music room where we play for some time.

This is a special music room, complete with the stern but caring music teacher. Those who went to Berthoud Elementary, visions of Mrs. Eggbert the art teacher, come to mind. He isn't allowed to touch anything in the room without the permission of the teacher; he knows this.

We bring a backpack everyday with various items, including several toys, camera, video recorder, and the like. He usually tries to pick up as many has he can, until two days ago where we said that he could only play with one toy at a time.

He plays for about 20 minutes then returns to his group for lunch. He returns after lunch for about 15 or 20 minutes more. During the break we spoke with the translator and music teacher. Among other things said the music teacher had told us that another couple came and set very specific rules and was strict with their child and it seems to work well. Thus far we have been afraid discipline because we didn't know what, if any the response from the staff would be.

Too late.

When he returned I explained to him that he wasn't to touch anything in the room except for the toys we brought, AND he could only play with one toy at a time. The consequences for not listening to me would be sitting on a chair for a period of time.

Test1: Play with only one toy.

Austin begin to play with one of the toys then he picked up another without putting the toy back. To the chair he went, for 1 minute. He cried and wondered "what did I do?" I explained why he was there and that he shouldn't do it again, AND that I loved him very much. (parental slip number one, you know I do this because I love you, etc)

Test2: Touch other things in the room

Austin began to wonder around the room and into one of the corners. He cut his eyes toward me then looked down to a plate of shiny moroccos. He pick them up and I stood up. It drop just about as fast, then he was on the chair. This time he wouldn't sit there so (and this parental slip was a bit subtler) I said that he could sit in the chair for 1 minute or return to his group. He said no to both... wait for it please... That's when I said either he was to choose or I would choose for him... (slip number two)

So it would seem that I have become my parents. At least I have said things I vowed to never say and we know that this slippery slope is a dangerous one.

So now, I am an official grownup.