"Mom! I saw a UFO!"

So I'm at work this afternoon and I get a call from my 9 yr. old daughter on the cellphone as I often do.

"Mom, Evan has to tell you something."

Well, first of all, this is highly unusual because Evan never has much to say and especially not on the phone. I knew this had to be serious. Next thing you know my 11 yr. old (who is really an old man trapped in a child's body) came on the phone and said,

"Mom. Something told me to go look out the window and I swear to God I saw a UFO just fly over our house." Now you have to understand this child is not given to drama. At. All. He is a "just the facts, ma'am" sort of kid. I kept my composure although I wanted to laugh and I said, "Really? What did it look like?" "A black speck in the sky" he said. I let him get it all out and asked a few questions inbetween, all the while holding in my laughter. Kids can be so amusing when they're serious. Finally Averi got back on the phone. I geared up because I knew the drama was coming.

You see, I have filled her head with tales from my childhood about an alien abduction in Pascagoula, MS that took place back in 1973. (Read story here: http://ufos.about.com/od/aliensalienabduction/p/pascagoula.htm). Our April visit to Mississippi to see my family almost didn't happen because Averi Anna just knew a UFO was gonna land out in the pasture near her Granny Jane's house and take her away. After much reassurance we were finally able to convince her that a UFO wouldn't land in the pasture, much less abduct her.

I suppose all that came roaring back to her memory today because she began to cry about the aliens coming to get her. At that point nothing would do in her mind, but that I had to leave work that instant and come get them. Luckily I only work a mile from home, but even still, I wasn't giving in to this nonsense. "First of all" I said, "I seriously doubt a UFO would land in our backyard in the middle of the afternoon, but if one does then call me back and I will be glad to come pick you and Evan up." At this point I'm sure all she could see were visions of little green men peeking in the kitchen window. When my attempt to comfort her didn't work I told her what I always tell her. "Call your daddy."

It wasn't five minutes later the secretary buzzed me and said Darin was on the phone. I picked up and in my normal cheerful voice said, "Hey honey." He didn't waste any time getting to the point. "I'm sure you know what this is about. Those children are home scared too death. And who can blame them with all your tales of Mississippi abduction stories! You are gonna have to go pick them up." I was like "Okay. But you will have to call and tell Evan he's coming back to the office with me."

See. Normally none of this would've been an issue because Ashton is always home with them. However, this week happens to be band-camp so the kids have been home alone in the afternoons for this week only. Don't worry. The doors are always locked and they are surrounded on all sides by neighbors at home. Darin comes home from 11:30-12:30 then I come home from 12:30-1:30 so we definitely keep a check on them. And besides, Evan is such an old soul it's like having an adult at home anyway. LOL!

I quickly told one of the agents I was heading home to get the kids then dashed out the door. I happen to have a job that is very flexible and in that, I am blessed. When I got home Averi was ready to go but Evan really didn't want to. He didn't even have his shoes on. He asked if he could go next door to his friend, Julian's house, so I told him to run over there and see if they were home. Lucky for him they were so at least he didn't have to spend 2.5 hours at my office being bored. Averi, on the other hand, brought her Gameboy, along with the book, Charlotte's Web, to keep herself entertained.

When I got home this evening Evan informed me that he now believes in UFO's. Even though he's watched numerous documentaries on them he said he didn't really believe until today. I guess seeing is believing as they say. LOL! For the record, I really do think he saw something but a UFO? I think the odds are probably not. That's not to say I don't believe they exist. I actually do think something is going on out there in the galaxy. There have just been too many sightings and strange experiences for there not to be something. I guess it's like everything else though. We'll understand it better in the by and by.

Temper Tantrums

As much as I hate to admit it, I have seen my daughter do this exact thing on many occasions. I mean literally fling herself into the floor and proceed to kick and scream and cry like it's the end of the world. Normally I just walk out of the room and refuse to give her an audience. Reasoning with her when she's in that state certainly doesn't work. That would be like trying to reason with a stampeding bull who's got his sights set on you. At that point all you can think to do is run as far away as you can, because saying "Here, nice bull" would be certain suicide.

I don't recall ever doing this as a child. Temper tantrums never entered my mind. For one thing I knew I would get my butt tore up. I'm not sure I fully comprehend why children do this. Obviously because they're angry. Duh! Or to get attention. Or to manipulate. I'll admit I'm usually the first to give in to my daughter when she whines because I want her to hush. That has probably been my no. 1 flaw as a parent. Letting my kids get away with unacceptable behaviors such as smarting off and name-calling. My teenager is so far gone there's no way to change it now. However, my daughter is another story. I believe I still have time to turn this around.

This week I actually grounded her from her Wii and the computer. When she persisted in giving me "attitude" I then grounded her from watching TV. This was only supposed to last one day. Well, last night I caught her playing with her handheld Nintendo and told her to put it up. She was testing me and I knew it. She just kept right on playing, insisting it wasn't a video game. I kept insisting it was. She then claimed she had to "save" her spot but in reality, she had turned off the volume and was still playing. This my son, Evan, revealed to me when he walked up behind her.

So you know what I did? I walked over and took it from her. Then I told her she was now grounded for two more days for disobedience. Oh, she tried to play me alright. Begged for another chance which is normally when I would buckle and give in, but not this time. I have got to gain some respect or she will be absolutely incorrigible as a hormonal teenage girl. Perish the thought! I have some inkling of what's coming because she is a clone of her teenage brother, personality-wise. Add to that the emotions of a female and what I've got on my hands is what could potentially become a monster.

Now in public you would never know she was anything other than a sweet, charming, beautiful little girl. She charms everyone she meets, teachers and parents alike. She's popular in school and has lots of friends. I'm thankful for that at least. The last thing I need is a "problem child" so-called. I just want her to be as beautiful inside as she is outside because as my mama used to always say, "Pretty is as pretty does." How do you teach a child inner-beauty though? It's beyond me... especially when they are given to anger, jealousy and a smart-mouth?

If she and my oldest were natured like my middle child, parenthood would be an absolute piece of cake. Instead, I have two choleric children that pretty much run all over me and I can't really blame them because I've allowed it all these years. Why did I allow it? Because truthfully, I was a lazy parent and didn't wanna "deal with it". It was always easier to "give in" to them which is the price I paid to have some peace. Now I'm really paying for it. And believe me, they know how to "work me" to get what they want. Even my teenager could charm the scales off a rattlesnake.

I know I can't be the only mom out there who deals with these issues. I would just love to know how to turn it around before my 8, almost 9, yr. old turns into the diva from hell. I think I'm on the right track with grounding her and actually "dealing" with her attitude and smart-mouth for a change rather than ignoring it. I am determined to "stick to my guns" this time although I know she will try to charm me. Be strong, DJ. You can do this. Now if I can just be consistent so that (as Dr. Phil says) she will be able to predict with 100% accuracy the outcome if she engages in certain behaviors, I will have it made. Pray for me that I'll endure to the end.

"I wanna be famous"

Those are words to a song my daughter goes around singing. I think she made them up. She is forever trying to write songs of her own. Somehow I have managed to give birth to a songbird, y'all. At any given time of the day or night you can hear Averi belting out a song or two. Lately it's been a toss-up between "Joy to the World" and "The Star-Spangled Banner". Now what those two songs have in common I'll never know, but for some reason they seem to go hand-in-hand in her mind.

I usually find myself cringing and holding my ears. Not that she can't carry a tune. She can actually. But she likes to sing loud. Really loud. And that's when she loses control. It's painful to hear. Last night she actually tried to break glass. No, seriously. Can you imagine? She found a note and just held it there in hopes that one of her daddy's vases would shatter into a million pieces. This went on for 10 solid minutes till my nerves were nearly shot. It didn't help that on occasion she would come over and blast the note right in my ear. She never managed to break the vase. I told her the note wasn't high enough. She's an alto afterall.

Like most little girls, Averi has dreams of being a popstar or an actress. These are not dreams I plan to pursue because for one thing it takes money and lots of it. I tell her if she's meant to be famous she will have to be "discovered". However, I will indulge her imagination from time-to-time by pretending with her what it would be like to become famous. I mean what is life if you can't have dreams?

One of those indulgences will take place tomorrow night, in fact. Averi has planned a concert. Yes, you read that right. A concert. In her bedroom. And me and her dad are invited. She has informed us that we must dress nice. Meaning, no pj's. She actually has a stage in her room now so she's got a hankering to use it. That was a Christmas gift from a family friend. He actually built it for her. This, too, just another way of indulging her dreams.

Tonight she handed her dad a sheet of paper with this written on it:

You are invited to a wonderful dinner with your wife in Averi's room.

She will be performing a sing show for y'all.

Tomorrow: 7:00 o'clock PM

Averi's songlist:

1) Joy to the World

2) Deck the Halls

3) We Wish you a Merry Christmas

4) Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

5) Jingle Bells

6) Oh Hannakuh

7) Our Song (in honor of her idol- Taylor Swift)

P.S. Be ready for a wonderful night.

When she handed it to me I couldn't help but giggle. A Christmas concert after Christmas. How special. I especially loved how she remembered the Jews with song-choice no. 6. And of course, there won't really be a dinner, but she did say maybe a snack. That will either be grapes or apples with water to drink. Yes, indeed it should be a night to remember, folks. Oh, the stuff of childhood.