is my son. Okay, I'm sure that sounds weird, but hear me out. My Tiger tends to live up to his nick-name. He's a bit of a wild man. My husband and I had decided we wouldn't ever let our children play with toy guns, we've re-evaluated that decision this summer. David has been OBSESSED with guns and being able to shoot them for the past year and a half or so. We spoke with a friend of ours who is a highway patrolman and father of 2. His children are allowed to play with toy guns, but there are rules. No pointing at or pretending to shoot anything with a name, being the most important. So a few weeks later we did our recycling. Our kids collect cans from neighbors and family and daddy brings them home from work to recycle. With their money they have to put 1/2 in the bank and the other half they can spend or save up for something. We went to Wal-Mart on this particular day and Lexi, of course, being her girly-girl self chose some make-up. Tiger was eyeing the guns in the toy section, saying loud enough for me to hear, "I wish I could have a gun.". I asked him to repeat what he said because I didn't quite hear him. He said again, "Mom, I just wish I could have my own gun." So I said, "Okay buddy, pick one." He nearly jumped out of his skin he was so excited. I knelt down after he made his selection and told him what the rules would be if he bought the gun and he eagerly agreed to them. I also explained that if he couldn't follow the rules about play-gun safety, I would take the gun away until he could obey them. It has been 1 1/2 weeks since we made that trip to Wally World and I have yet to take the gun away. Not once. There is another thing I am doing with him. Is there anyone out there who was a Stewart Smalley fan? I do believe self affermation is a powerful thing. Every night before bed I have David tell me 2 times that he is a kind boy. It comes out so cute too, "Momma, I'na kin (long i) boy." I think that it has really made a difference in the way he looks at himself. We also do it throughout the day. Whenever I "catch him being kind" I say, "and why did I catch you being kind son?" he'll respond, "Cuz' I'na kin boy Mom!". And I praise him as I agree. I'm so happy these two things have worked out for good. He's such a great kid, I want him to be the very best he was created to be.
