I have great kids. I'd say that they are spoiled. Not because they get everything that they want, but because they get an unbelievable amount of attention from their mom and dad. That is a good thing. The spoiled part comes into play when they expect things. Last week was pretty cold. Because of my job, I am able to drive my kids to school every day. It's something that I enjoy doing. Watching them hop out of the car with smile on their faces, usually getting a smooch from the third grader only. The older two would never show affection in public, they are way too cool. I'm setting up the fact that they get rides everywhere. Hockey, softball, baseball, friend's houses, etc. They're not worried about gas prices, my time, or anything but their lives. They are typical kids.

I drew the line last week though. I had a young man in our house that didn't really value the transportation that he has been given. He made the mistake of snapping back that we didn't drive him around THAT much. I blew my top and said: "I don't care how cold it was tomorrow, you are walking to school." I do that ocassionaly. I blurt out punishments without thinking. My wife catches me a lot on that, and reminds me that you have to stick with it, or it doesn't mean anything. I was stuck. He smiled as if to say that I was bluffing. I said right away that I was serious. The smile left his face, as he probably pondered what route to take to school (I doubt if he even knows how to get there). Then he did a mental check of the weather. He realized that is was going to be cold. He came down the stairs later, and apologized with sincerity. I informed him that I was standing firm on my punishment. He would indeed walk to school. I told him that it would teach him a good lesson about mouthing off, and how lucky he is to get a ride to school.

Well, morning came the next day, it was freezing, and it weighed heavily on my mind, whether to cave in or not. I was going to see how he played it out. To my surprise, he bundled up about twenty minutes earlier than normal, grabbed his backpack, and started for the door. I told him that I was sorry that he had to walk to school, and he replied with the fact that he was sorry for not appreciating the rides that he's had already. I let him go out into the subzero cold, and watched him turn the corner. I felt like calling child services on myself. I knew that this was the right thing to do, even though I felt bad.

I also got one thing that made me warm up. I got a hug and a smooch before he left. If that's the case, I'll make him walk every day. I doubt he will go for that deal, because he now appreciates the rides. Not as much as I value the hug and the kiss, though. I know that no matter the weather, I've got great kids.