The D word

I don't write ALL the Sterling stories. Just the ones that are fun to write/read. If I wrote about every time we crack each other up...this would be boring.

He is grounded because of his two F's. I took away electronics. This grounding tho, I decided to let him outside. Not to other kids' houses, just outside...to get exercise. The two times he went outside he was late. The second time he was late, he came in crying and claimed he fell. When I didn't bite he came back with "You don't believe me?" To which, my response was, "what have you done that would lead me to believe you." It pissed him off that I didn't believe his story.
It pissed me off that he lies. I have told him this time and time again.
Two days after this event, he was asking me if he was still grounded.
"Did you lie to me about being hurt?" I asked.
Silence.
"Did you lie to me about leaving at 5:50 to get home by 6?" I queried again.
Silence.
I let it go until he asked again. Which was about 20 minutes.
After some direct eye contact and questioning, he admitted to making up the story.
I told him that I don't know what to do anymore. Even if I do ground him, he breaks the rules. I tell him what time to come in, he comes in late. I tell him no electronics...he takes a video game over to his mothers. I let him know that I'm not even going to ground him anymore. It doesn't do a damn bit of good.
He came back with, after a couple minutes of contemplation, "you have to...you're the dad...I'm only the kid and I need you to make the rules."
OH...A RAY OF HOPE. Maybe he gets it. I don't think he could have said anything better.


A couple hours after he admitted to lying, it was bed time.
"Aren't you gonna tuck me in?" He asked.
"No...I'm mad at you." I returned.
Off to bed, by himself, he went.
Ten minutes later got up and came out to the front room...thankfully. After he went to bed I was kicking myself. I shouldn't have told him I was mad...I should have used the "D" word. Here was my chance.
"Dad...you know how you said you were mad?"
"Yeah...I said that...but I realized after you went to bed...I'm not mad at you...I'm disappointed. Disappointed in you."
"Disappointed..." He half mumbled and turned back into bed. Whatever he was going to say got trumped by the "D" word.