Time to cut the cord

The only things I like about winter are that bugs stay out of my house and little boys stay in my house.  I am terrified of bugs and therefore take a sick delight in the fact that they all meet a frozen death once a year.  I am also mom to three fearless little boys who love to be outdoors.  I am heading into my 5th summer in a row where I go into a mini-panic every time I hear the door shut. 

Who just left the house?!?  Who’s outside?!?

If Nolie decides to go outside, it isn’t such a big deal anymore.  He understands where he needs to stay.  Plus, he’s old enough now to understand that he needs to let me know when he’s heading out the door.  AND, as an added bonus, he also understands that he needs to make sure the door is shut so that Little Hurricane can’t get out.

CamCam, not so much.  CamCam knows that I want him to stay in the back yard, but there are so many interesting things in the front yard.  And the neighbors’ yard.  And the street.  CamCam has been told countless times he’s supposed to ask before heading out the door, but who can be bothered to track down mom when there’s great fun to be had outdoors?  CamCam also thinks he’s helping Little Hurricane out by leaving the front door open for him.

But mo-om, he really wanted to go play outside!

A few days ago I was in the kitchen cooking dinner when Nolie says to me, “Hey mom, I see CamCam.”  Nolie was at out front window looking out, so I walk over to him and asked him where he saw CamCam.  “Right there,” he points, “down at the end of the street.”  I run out the front door and sure enough, there’s CamCam happy as a clam walking up the street towards our house. 

I bring him into the house and ask him what he thought he was doing.  That he knows he isn’t supposed to be outside without telling me and that he never, never, never is supposed to go in the street.  He said he wanted to take his puppy for a walk, and holds up his stuffed dog.  I bring him to the DaDa:

Me:  Every single day I tell CamCam that he can’t go outside without telling me first.  And everyday he gets punished for going outside without permission.  I just now found him walking at the end of the road, he isn’t listening to me, you need to take over.

Dada: (Looking at CamCam) What are you supposed to do before you go outside?

Cam:  Ask mom.

Dada:  And where are you supposed to stay when your outside?

Cam:  Out back.

Dada:  Then why did you just go outside without telling mom and why did you go in the road?

Cam:  I don’t know. 

Dada:  You need to start listening to your mother.

Cam:  (mumbling)  bu-sh-pa-tro-me.

Dada:  What?

Cam:  But daaaad…..  she’s always controlling me.

You know you have serious problems when your three year old tells you you’re too controlling.  How the Dada held it together for the rest of that conversation is beyond me, I was in a corner laughing my head off.  He’s a better parent then I.