MichaelandChrissy.com

Chrissy and I watch new episodes of “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” on television every Monday. These people have eight kids, so it’s fun to watch them suffer through the same problems that regular parents have (except eight times over, all at once). Kate manages this herculean task by implementing highly effective organization and planning skills. Chrissy, being an organizational maniac on crack, often emulates Kate’s parenting efforts.  This is how we got a “Naughty Spot”, which is what Super Nanny would have called their “Time Out Spot“.

Ask not for whom the Naughty Spot tolls; it tolls for thee.

To keep their six toddlers in line, Jon and Kate put them in “time-out” when they act up.  Each child has their own Spot on which they have to sit during time-outs.  Chrissy decided that she had to have one.  We actually ordered two, in anticipation of wearing one out (or just having one on hand for Gavin when he’s old enough to require one). They arrived in the mail about a month ago, but have remained unused.  Generally, Aiden is a very good boy, so we ended up with a circular, decorative rug in the corner of our dining room.

Today, Aiden was sent to the Naughty Spot for the first time. He has picked up hitting people (we think from the older kids at Gymboree), but now concludes with nasty scratches from talon-like nails.  Neither of which makes Chrissy very happy.  Aiden had to spend two minutes in time-out on the Naughty Spot.  He loved it.  Big smiles.  It’s his new favorite place now.  At least he didn’t hit anyone afterward.  We hope that, eventually, he’ll equate the Naughty Spot with punishment.

Last night was Chrissy’s first Master’s class, so it was just Aiden and me by our lonesomes once I got home from work.  We know the nightly routine (bikeride, dinner, bath, book, bed), so there should be no problems.  You foresee a problem coming, right?  It wouldn’t be the first time, as it would seem that I’m getting good at tending wounded toddlers. Let’s get to it then.

I took Aiden into the bathroom for his bath at 6:15 PM, roughly the same time as every night.  Bathtime is our bonding time on the weeknights, since he’s usually in bed by 7 PM.  As the tub was filling up, I told Aiden to put his arms up so that we could take his shirt off.  His panda hoodie got stuck around his neck and wouldn’t come off.  Aiden countered this by bending forward at the waist, directly into the side of the tub. Thump!

I’m thinking, “Ouch, that had to hurt.” But the manuever did help get the shirt off.  I put Aiden in my lap to give him a hug, since he started crying shortly after impact (while still trapped inside the hoodie), and then went to pull off his socks.  And there’s blood on me.  Aiden looks up at me and there’s his bloody nose.  Bleeding while under Daddy’s supervision is starting to become a bad habit with him.  Remind me to coat him in bubble wrap next Thursday night.

Aiden’s bloody nose wasn’t a big deal at all.  I cleaned up his face with a tissue and then put him in the tub.  He loves his bathtime and stopped crying once he hit the water.  I tilted him back so that he could float a little, which kept his head back so that he wouldn’t bleed anymore.  I checked his mouth for bleeding, just in case the damage was more severe than I thought, but he was all right.  Ordeal over before it began.