I walk in the door and SD12 has her school crap all over the computer desk and the surrounding area. DH and I need to do a little online bill pay and banking. When we finish, he asked her to pick up her mess! Probably, Just because it impacts him, as he will be gaming online later tonight. But oh well, he asked her to pick up after herself. It is a start.

7p.m. rolls around SD12 and I are upstairs watching tv. I go down to take him a snack. I said it is 7, I told you I would bring you a snack at 7. I really emphasized 7. He says it is 7:05, in a playful manner of course. I walked away. I didn't say another word. Why didn't I say a word. Because I'm disengaged. Because the new rule from BM is no cell phone after 7pm. So what does SD so for the rest of the evening? Stare at her phone. I came to bed at 845. When I kissed him good night, he asked me what SD was doing. I stated the truth, in her room playing on her phone. He goes back to his game. Ugh! So much for him stepping up to the plate and parenting with consistency.

This rule has been in place for a week now. I know damn well that kid knew that phone was supposed to be put in the kitchen. She knows dad doesn't always pay attention. She knows, "oh, I forgot," is good enough excuse for him. She knows how to get away with it here. I happen to agree with BM on this one and have been saying this for a year. "But it's none of my business, understand. That's why I'm not sayin'a word, not one single word." That last bit is a quote from a movie, ironically enough one of my favorite movies, the original Parent Trap. But I just love the way Verbena says it.