The Rabbit Saga

First, let me say I appreciate the prayers!!! We need them.

I think we got home from California around August 8. This is when the problem of caring for the rabbits began. Before the trip, for the month of July, the kiddo had done well. As soon as the girls were back he figured it was their job and he was done. We've been working on this ever since. I require him to get it done before breakfast, but I know that a few times he got away with getting breakfast before finishing  because I was busy and didn't notice, or I believed his lies and didn't check up on him right away. I suppose this has given him cause to think I won't follow through and he has a chance, even if it is a 1% chance.


Day before yesterday I really felt like I had to step it up a bit as obviously nothing  was making an impression on him. I made it absolutely clear that if the rabbits were not fed and watered he would not get breakfast. I had not done that before. I just kept sending him out until it was done and he got to eat when it was right. Before he went out yesterday, I reminded him to do it right the first time or he would have to know what if feels like for the bunnies not to get their food. I am clearly dealing with rebellion.

You know how it went yesterday. {GASP!}

He didn't get breakfast.

And he was in shock. After sending him out 8 times to get it done right he came in fully expecting breakfast. I asked him, "What did I tell you would happen if you did not feed the rabbits right the first time?"

I would not get breakfast.

"But you really believed I would feed you anyway?"

YES!

Then and there he had a tantrum and most of our morning was spent trying to turn his attitude around.

Uncle Bob and Auntie Joy showed up on their motorcycle and we had a great afternoon - except that the twins were incredibly, and annoyingly seeking attention the entire time. They interrupted, they were loud, and they were obnoxiously so!!!! It was all Steve and I could do to handle them. Uncle Bob took them for rides on the bike and they had fun, but they were like I have not seen them for a long time.

Last night before bed, I reminded James about the bunnies. I reminded him that tomorrow he had a chance to show me he could do the chores right OR he would once again miss breakfast. The ball is in his court. The choice was his.

In the morning he rushed out with a happy attitude and I chased him down so that we talk over each and every step of what I expected so that there could be no mistake.

It's four things:
1) Rabbit pellets in one bowl and
2) clean water in the other bowl for Betty.
3)Rabbit pellets in one bowl and
4)clean water in the other bowl for Chip.

That's all!

Once again I asked if he could he tell me what would happen if it wasn't done right the first time?


Yes, he knew.

He went off happily. We all watched him go to both cages. We saw him work. And then when he came back I told him to sit on the step and we went over the 4 things that should have been done. Just to be sure -Just to give him a chance to go back and fix anything he might have "forgotten". He told me he had fed and watered CHiP and He told me he had fed and watered Betty.  I grilled him; "Where did you get the water? How full were the bowls? Was the water clean? Etc. I so wanted him to be successful.

Christina inspected the rabbit cages while we waited.

AND. . . .


There was NO food in Betty's bowl!

I went with him to see for myself and sure enough. He had NOT fed her.

I asked him what that meant. He said, no breakfast.

I was so sad. I can hardly wrap my brain around this!!!! WHY??


His response? Because I DON'T WANT TO!

It's market day and the girls had forgotten the scale, so after making sure everyone, including our guests had breakfast I ran the scale to the market. When I got back I filled my bowl and James asked if he could sit down. I kind of looked at him blank and said, "Sure, son, sit anywhere you like".

He sat at the breakfast bar.

As I carried my bowl to the table he made like he totally expected it was for him. He even acted offended when I placed it in front of me. He asked where his was.

He cried.

but there was no tantrum. Somehow he doesn't believe my word.

I am so consistent. I rarely ever mess up on this. I mean what I say, I say what I mean. I don't lie, I don't think I threaten without following through. It's true he's gotten away with not feeding the rabbits a few times in the past by lying or by sneaking, but I am trying so hard to not let this happen. I am a busy mom with a hundred irons in the fire, occasionally I can be fooled. Oh, how I hate being fooled!

So is he really dumb or is he trying to outsmart us? To me he is a very smart boy. Maybe I'm the stupid one. MAY God HELP US.

It's the same battle, different scenario with his twin. She had a tantrum at breakfast- a small one, we had company after all,  but a tantrum none-the-less because Christina put margarine on her tortilla instead of peanut butter, BUT Christina had asked what she wanted, and put marg when the kid wouldn't answer. After the marg was on she asked for peanut butter.... No one can win. Ever.

***
It's nearly lunch time and he's just been offered a freshly picked apple before lunch is served and he turned up his nose.... hmmmm.....