Oh the joys of parenthood. It seemed that Gibbles had finally injested her whole lunch at school. In reality, it was just hidden (thrown into the recycling container). It was a good lunch too, a pasta salad with red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, AND chick peas for protein. This non lunch eating "phase" has been going on for some time now, regardless of what I put in the lunch, it comes home, wasted. If I have posted this story before, my apologies, but I mentioned this to another mother and jokingly said, "I might as well just cut out pictures of food, and send them with her", the other "good mother" retorted, "I guess that would be a call to C.A.S.". I would never, ever, insert glossy 8 by 10 pictures of pie, or roast pheasant with oyster stuffing in her lunch, instead of the "real thing". I have thought about it though. Then last night, I found out that Gibbles and a friend had made three "prank" calls. I was outraged. Thoughts of "how could she betray my trust", "haven't I taught her well?", and "what the H*LL was she thinking?" drifted through my mind as I marched both Gibbles, and Tibbles, the observer of the infraction to their rooms at 7:00 pm. Gibbles is now grounded and I have threatened bringing out the "Tough Love" book. (It was my parent's copy, need I say more). This morning, prior to coffee, another battle of the hormones erupted. My daughter refused to eat breakfast citing that a toothpick had embedded itself into her Croc. (A likely story, I am sure it was lodged there on purpose, as toothpicks do not stand up on end). I still made her ingest her quicky breakfast (she had 4 minutes until she had to leave), of cheese on toast. So my discipline time line / modus operandi runs as follows: 1) Grounding 2) No computer/ Television 3) No friends over 4) Hard work 5) Embarassment by recounting any and all attitude and naughtiness to relatives. Also putting reminders to eat her lunch on Facebook (which she can't access for a week because she is grounded (evil laugh).