I returned home after a week away to find my children sleeping on the chilly hallway floor, which was an odd and unnerving sight. With my heart racing, I looked for answers, but all I could find were strange noises coming from the kids\u2019 room and my husband was nowhere to be seen. What I discovered next infuriated me \u2013 and made me want to fight!After spending a week away on a work trip, I must admit that I was eager to return home. Tommy and Alex, my boys, were most likely bouncing off the walls in anticipation of my arrival.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re six or eight years old, a week seems like forever. Mark, too? I assumed that he would be happy to return the control to me. Don\u2019t get me wrong, he\u2019s a fantastic father, but he\u2019s always been the fun parent rather than the responsible one.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t help but smile when I arrived into our driveway at midnight. As it should be at this horrible hour, the house was silent and dark.<\/p>\n
With my suitcase in hand and keys jingling lightly, I tiptoed to the front door.<\/p>\n
I entered, prepared to fall into bed, as the latch clicked open. However, there was a problem.<\/p>\n
I froze when my foot struck something soft. I struggled for the light switch, my heart racing. I nearly cried out when the hall came to life.<\/p>\n
Like a couple of puppies, Tommy and Alex were splayed on the floor, entangled in blankets. Although they were sound asleep, their hair was sticking up in all directions and their faces were covered in dirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the devil?\u201d With my head racing, I muttered. Was a fire going on? A spill of gas? What kept them from being in bed?<\/p>\n
Afraid to wake them until I understood what was happening, I slipped passed them. Pizza boxes, soda cans, and what appeared to be melting ice cream on the coffee table were all throughout the living room, which was a complete mess. But Mark was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n
As I walked to our bedroom, my heart was pounding in my chest. empty.<\/p>\n
It appeared as though the bed had not been slept in today because it was still made. Where was Mark? His car was in the driveway.<\/p>\n
I heard it at that point. From the boys\u2019 room came a low, muffled sound. With my mind going wild, I walked carefully over. Was Mark injured? Had he been tied up by some maniac who had broken in?<\/p>\n
I slowly opened the door, and then I thought, \u201cWhat. The. Actual\u2014\u201d Remembering that the children were just down the hall, I bit my tongue.<\/p>\n
Mark was standing there with his controller in hand and headphones on, surrounded by snack wrappers and empty energy drink cans. However, that wasn\u2019t even the most absurd aspect.<\/p>\n
Some sort of gamer paradise had been created in the boys\u2019 room. There were LED lights all over the place, a huge TV occupied one wall, and I believe the hideous object in the corner was a mini-fridge.<\/p>\n
The anger grew inside of me like a volcano ready to erupt, and I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Mark was so focused on whatever game he was playing that he hadn\u2019t even spotted me yet.<\/p>\n
I walked over with a stomp and grabbed his headphones. \u201cMark! What on earth is happening?<\/p>\n
He seemed disoriented and blinked at me. \u201cOh, hello, sweetie. You arrive home early.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarly? Midnight has arrived! What is causing our kids to sleep on the floor?<\/p>\n
With a shrug, he grabbed his controller once more. \u201cOh, it\u2019s all right. Outside, the lads were contentedly napping. They considered it to be an adventure.<\/p>\n
I grabbed hold of the controller. \u201cA journey? Mark, they\u2019re not camping! They\u2019re dozing off on the filthy floor of our hallway!<\/p>\n
He tried to reclaim the controller and pleaded, \u201cCome on, don\u2019t be such a buzzkill.\u201d \u201cEverything is in order. I\u2019ve been giving them food and other things.<\/p>\n
Are you feeding them? Do you mean the ice cream and pizza cartons in the living room? With each phrase, I could feel my blood pressure rising. \u201cHow about taking a bath? Or, I\u2019m not sure, their real beds?<\/p>\n
Mark gave an eye roll. Sarah, they\u2019re all right. Relax a little.<\/p>\n
I lost it at that point.<\/p>\n
\u201cLighten up? GLOW UP? While you play video games in their room, our kids are dozing off like animals on the floor! What\u2019s wrong with you?<\/p>\n
\u201cI have nothing wrong with me,\u201d he sighed. \u201cAll I\u2019m attempting to do is get some alone time. Is that really so bad?Trying not to scream, I inhaled deeply. \u201cYou know what? Right now, we\u2019re not doing this. Head over to the lads\u2019 beds. Right now.<\/p>\n
However, I\u2019m in the midst of\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cMark, NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite his complaints, he stood up and shuffled by me.<\/p>\n
Tommy twitched slightly but did not wake up as I watched him lift him up. I couldn\u2019t help but notice how similar the man acting like a child and the real youngster appeared when Mark carried him to bed.<\/p>\n
The filth on Alex\u2019s face made my heart ache a little as I picked him up. I made up my mind when I put him to bed. I would treat Mark exactly like a child if that was his desire.<\/p>\n
I implemented my strategy the following morning.<\/p>\n
I sneaked inside the man cave Mark had made and unplugged everything while he was taking a shower. After that, I started working.<\/p>\n
I was waiting for him, grinning broadly, when he came downstairs, his hair still damp. Greetings, my love! I prepared breakfast for you.<\/p>\n
He gave me a suspicious glance. \u201cThanks, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
I placed a plate before him. A Mickey Mouse pancake with a fruit smiling face was in the center. He had a sippy cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d he probed the pancake.<\/p>\n
\u201cSilly, it\u2019s your breakfast! We have a huge day ahead of us, so eat up now!<\/p>\n
I displayed my work, a huge, vibrant chore chart that was affixed to the refrigerator, after breakfast. \u201cObserve what I created for you!\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark\u2019s eyes got bigger. \u201cWhat on earth is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLanguage!\u201d I reprimanded. You have your own task chart! You see? Cleaning your room, doing the dishes, and putting your toys away will win you gold stars!<\/p>\n
\u201cMy playthings? What are you\u2014 Sarah?<\/p>\n
I interrupted him. \u201cOh, and remember! Our house has a new rule. Screens must be turned off by precisely 9 p.m. Your phone is part of that, sir!<\/p>\n
Mark\u2019s expression changed from bewildered to irate. \u201cAre you serious? I\u2019m an adult; I don\u2019t require\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, ah, ah!\u201d I gestured with my finger. \u201cYou\u2019ll have to go to the timeout corner if you argue!\u201d<\/p>\n
I stayed true to my g.u.ns for the following week. I would unplug his game system and turn off the Wi-Fi every night at nine o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n
I even read him \u201cGoodnight Moon\u201d in my most calming voice before tucking him into bed with a drink of milk.<\/p>\n
Plastic dishes with tiny partitions were used to serve his meals. I offered him animal crackers as a snack and sliced his sandwiches into dinosaur shapes. I would say things like, \u201cUse your words, honey,\u201d in response to his complaints. Big boys don\u2019t complain.<\/p>\n
One significant source of conflict was the task chart. I would make a big show of handing him a gold star each time he finished a task.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at you, doing it alone\u2014putting your washing away! Mommy is so proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a child, Sarah,\u201d he would murmur, gritting his teeth.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d respond, \u201cOf course not, sweetie.\u201d Who would like to assist in baking cookies now?<\/p>\n
About a week into my small experiment, the breaking point occurred. After having a tantrum about his two-hour screen usage limit, Mark was just sent to the timeout corner. I quietly set the kitchen timer while he sat there furious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is absurd!\u201d he erupted. \u201cFor heaven\u2019s sake, I\u2019m an adult now!\u201d<\/p>\n
I arched an eyebrow. \u201cOh? Are you certain of that? Because grown guys don\u2019t force their kids to sleep on the floor so they can spend the entire night playing video games.<\/p>\n
He became somewhat deflated. \u201cAll right, I understand! I apologize!<\/p>\n
I looked at him for a while. Even though he appeared to be truly sorry, I wasn\u2019t going to spare him when I had one final blow to give.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d I answered politely, \u201cI accept your apology.\u201d \u201cBut I\u2019ve already given your mother a call.\u201d<\/p>\n
He lost the color in his face. \u201cYou didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just as expected, someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, I saw Mark\u2019s mother, who looked like a really disappointed parent.<\/p>\n
She yelled, \u201cMark!\u201d and strode into the home. \u201cDid you actually force my darlings to sleep on the ground so you could indulge in your small games?\u201d<\/p>\n
It was as though Mark wanted the floor to collapse and engulf him. \u201cIt\u2019s not, Mom. I mean, I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Her expression softened as she turned to face me. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry you had to deal with this, Sarah, my love. I believed that I had raised him better.<\/p>\n
I gave her an arm pat. Linda, it\u2019s not your fault. Simply put, some males mature more slowly than others.<\/p>\n
Mark had a blazing red face. \u201cPlease, Mom. I am thirty-five years old.<\/p>\n
Linda turned back to me, ignoring him. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, though. My schedule for the upcoming week is free. I\u2019ll quickly get this lad back in shape!<\/p>\n
I got Mark\u2019s attention as Linda hurried to the kitchen, complaining about the condition of the dishes. He appeared completely defeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cSarah,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI really apologize. I was careless and self-centered. It won\u2019t occur once more.<\/p>\n
I became a little softer. \u201cI understand, my dear. However, I need to know that you have everything under control while I\u2019m away. Instead of another playmate, the boys need a father.<\/p>\n
He seemed embarrassed as he nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re correct. I swear, I\u2019ll perform better.<\/p>\n
I kissed him quickly and grinned. \u201cI\u2019m sure you will. Why don\u2019t you go do the dishes for your mother now? Perhaps we can have ice cream for dessert if you perform well.<\/p>\n
It was impossible for me not to feel a little smug as Mark walked off to the kitchen. I hoped that was a lesson learned. And I still had that timeout nook prepared and waiting in case\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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