Déjà vu

In my head
All day
I was going to pick up the girls
We would go home
We would ride bikes
And BOTH girls would love it
And that would be that.

But no.

Ended up at work.
Late.
Stolen iPhone from a PE locker.

(First - WHY does your 6th grader HAVE an iPhone.

Second - WHY does your 6th grader HAVE an iPhone at school.

Third - WHY does your 6th grader HAVE an iPhone in their backpack front pocket.

Fourth - 

And most importantly

WHY DON'T I HAVE AN iPhone????

But I digress...)

Investigation starts.
Investigation concludes.
Have to finish something.
Can't leave with it left undone.

Don't pick up the girls until 6:00 pm.
We are now in our winter.
It is dark here by 6:00.
It is pitch black here by 6:30.
I mention my disappointment in the car of no bike ride due to darkness.
I guess the other daughter
Not the guilty one from last night
The other one
Wasn't listening.
(Or watching out the window!)

We step in the house.
We unpack the lunch boxes.
She asks
"So, can we get ready for a bike ride?"
To which I reply.
"Um, no.  It's pitch black outside
It's not safe."
To which she replies with a temper tantrum
Appropriate of a 2 year old.
Crying
Whining

Sent to her bedroom for a time out on her bed

Slamming doors
(Oh, no - we DO NOT slam doors here!)
More crying
Refusal to answer.

I sent her into the shower.
Slammed door again.
(REALLY!!!!)
Voice raised this time.
Not effective
But done.
Last warning given
Next would mean no trick or treating

The other daughter
The guilty one from last night
Who hates the new bike
Is gloating with happiness over the lack of a bike ride

(Okay - that's an exaggeration

I am SURE

But it's how I felt she must be feeling!

Even though I have NO evidence!

I prepare dinner
Just for the two of them
My stomach is churning again
And I can't eat with that kind of stress at the table
Just can't.

The guilty daughter from last night is quiet while I cook
I help her with homework
I refrain from saying
"This is a direct correlation to last night with your choices"

(Score one for me.)

The other daughter,
The temper-tantrum thrower from tonight comes out
Wants to chat it up
Wants to pretend nothing happened
Sorry
I don't work that way
We talk it out
We discuss it
I express my disappointment
I express her need to seek forgiveness
It is granted once sought

Dinner is served.
I sit down and lay down the law
Again

Due to the behaviors
From Thing 1 yesterday
And Thing 2 today
They will NOT be wearing costumes to their after school party tomorrow

Their behavior choices and attitudes
TONIGHT
and
TOMORROW morning
Will determine whether Trick or Treating will happen
"Do you both understand why?
Do you both understand what the next step is?"

They have forty minutes to entertain themselves after dinner
With an activity
Non-electronic
Of their own choosing
Dolls for one, again.
Reading for the other, again.
Me
I watch Anderson 360 storm coverage.

Allowance charts.
(Um, no you don't get all your stickers when you have a 20 minute fit carrying on like a 2 year old!  Seriously????)
Bible story.
(Maryann?  What does it mean that the little girl was possessed by a demon spirit in the story?  I want to say - well, that is what seems to have happened to the both of you the past two nights!  But, instead I explain and give some examples.  Score 2 for me tonight.)
Roses and Thorns.
(The guilty party tonight's thorn, "That we don't get to wear our costumes to the Monster Mash,- but then she rushes to add - but that's what's only fair because of how we choose to behave.)

Sigh.
Full moon.
No doubt. 
Tonight was the definition of 
Déjà vu
And for the record
I don't like  
Déjà vu

Praise Report:
Count it all joy.
Count it all joy.
Count it all joy.
Praising God tonight for time to process, friends who uplift me in prayer, and for two little girls who I love even when their reactions to situations and things are SO TYPICAL and frustrating!

Prayer Request:
Lord, give me patience!  And give it to me NOW!  (Feel free to rephrase your prayer for me and the girls in a more dignified way and manner.  But you get the picture!)