after they have been utterly horrible to each, inexcusably rude to me and inexplicably disobedient all day long?
They're 5 and 7, and I had to work from home for 3-4 hours today. I had arranged their favourite sports activity for two hours, then my friend would pick them up along with hers, make them lunch, let them play altogether in her garden and everyone would be happy and I'd finish my work.
They begged and pleaded this morning not to go. I explained I couldn't play or do anything with them, lunch would be sandwiches and they'd have to entertain themselves. They said OK. I believed them because usually they're reasonable.
Oh, my, what a MISTAKE!!!! 3 hours work took 6 hours and they have been arguing and hitting each other aaaaall day long. It's so out of character for both of them, I mostly ignored it, but what I can't ignore is the "iiii'm sooooo bored". Well, you should have done what I suggested then, SHOULDN'T YOU?
The last straw was throwing soapy water in each others eyes, crying and then yelling at me that it's all my fault for keeping them together (they're adopted siblings, still have contact with their late mother's parents so know their story). That really upset me and I sent them to bed at 6 (normally it's 7.30. Very calmly, skipped bath, gave them a glass of milk, read them a story, told them they could read or play but they couldn't come out and complain. But they're crying and crying, I can still hear them in there crying about how they don't want to go to bed.
I don't' think IABU for this punishment, was I? They had options all day long and kept making the wrong choice.
I've managed to book them to a summer camp for tomorrow last moment, I'm in fact not working tomorrow and was going to take them out but I SOOOOO need this. There's always Friday for a day out....
Verdict? Most evil mother in the universe?