Just sounding off really.
Dd and ds woke up early (7.5 and 4 yrs) at about 6:15. Ds asked for TV on, I said no, play with toys in their bedroom and I will be up in one hour. It was far too early. They did this quietly until 7am. Dd came up and told me the time, I said to give me 15 mins, and I would be up and we would have boiled eggs for breakfast. Yey, they said. I reminded them, no tv, and don't touch the iPad or laptop. 5 mins later. I heard them talking about wreck it Ralph. Which is an iPad app.
I got up, to find them playing with a toy, iPad next to them, looking shifty. 'We you on the iPad?' No. Said dd. I asked again. 'No!' 'Yes' said ds. 'Ds was on it' said dd. 'no I wasn't!' Said ds 'we both were!' I looked dd right in the eyes. Have you been on the iPad? 'Yes' said d sheepishly, 'I'm sorreeeee!'
I have banned her from the iPad indefinitely. Both of them. And the computer. None for at least the weekend, and probably for much longer. I reminded them it is not theirs so I won't give a time as right now I don't want them to ever go on it, as they seem to think its theirs. They have no respect for what is ours.
Anyway. I am more furious with the lying. Dd lied, when given the opportunity to stop that lie she lied again, then she tried to blame her brother. I know that is pretty normal for children to blame each other but to don't like this lying. I have told dd that it is much better to admit doing something wrong and get told off for that and it be done with than lie as that makes it so much worse.
I threatened to not let her go to a party, or do an activity she has planned on Monday. But, that seemed really mean, In the end it I said that I would not be making boiled eggs for breakfast as her punishment (which they were very upset about) and that she was not allowed to do anything at all in relationship to the computer. Which means she can't use it for her homework. That is punishment enough I think. We can go to the library for her homework and look at real books to find the answers !
I know it's our fault. We have given them both too much freedom to use the computers. We have always instilled that they must always ask for permission, they do not get free reign, and we take access away when they don't ask, for a day or two. but they seem to think they are theirs to play on, they get upset when we don't let them go on, like we are depriving them from something and they always want to go on it. It's all got too much and I want it to stop so I think we are going to just have no computers for a while.
I was so so furious!!! I feel better for writing it all down and having a good moan.
Is this the start of regular lying?! She has lied from time to time, not about huge things, but enough to try and avoid getting into trouble. And she is terrible at it!