Mission Complete and Cupcake Tears

Drumroll please!! After all hope was lost and a few dozen emails begging the question 'seriously??'...we have found a nanny! The kids liked her instantly, she's young, speaks some French AND is going to college.

**INSERT HAPPY DANCE HERE**

She came for the interview around bedtime so during the interview I am also trying to put two kids to bed. I warned her that they use every excuse in the book and will come out at least a few times although my daughter, who is five, is really starting to enjoy sleep.

List of excuses:
- have to pee
- have to water plants outside
- have to wash faces
- have to poop
- have to get something to drink
- have to pee more
- hug and kiss
- stuffed animal

Okay, maybe they didn't use them all just last night, but you get the idea. So I decided to give them a chance...How about if you go to bed right now and stay in for the night then mommy will give you cupcakes and bananas for breakfast?!?  The cupcakes aren't frosted and just sitting there and need to be eaten anyway, so why not!

My daughter knows I have no issues listening to crying, screaming, stomping, shouting or any other general temper tantrum shenanigans they can come up with and she has lost many a reward that she goes right to sleep. My son on the other hand uses at least half of the excuses listed until just after 9.

My morning starts at 7:30am when my three year old climbs into my bed and rub his hands on my face and says 'good-morning, mommy'. What a way to start!! He's picking out his clothes while I wake up his sister, she would sleep 12 hours if we let her, who instantly is excited because she knows she getting a cupcake, YAY!!!!!

She comes bounding into the kitchen, dressed and hair brushed (this is quite a feat already) and waits for her cupcake and banana. My son, in the midst of trying to dress himself starts to get excited to until I remind him that he's not getting one. But why Momma???? I asked him what he was supposed to do to earn a cupcake and if he did it. He bows his head and says no and then the water works start...The tears, screaming, falling to the floor, all clothes come off and he's now a puddle on my floor. I told him he could have cereal and a banana but no cupcake.

When we finally made it to the car to drive to daycare and he's eating his banana, he asks if he can have a cupcake tomorrow morning if he stays in bed all night. Maybe the lesson has been learned today and we won't have to repeat it again tomorrow? Stay tuned!

Leave a comment!
What kind of excuses do your kids use to come out after being put to bed? 
What tricks do you use to keep them in their rooms?