Dad reports:
Tommy ended up going to the mall with us for pictures. The line was short. The grandparents and other children joined us quickly and the pictures were had with a good time. No yelling. No crying (even from the toddler). No fuss.
We headed to lunch and had one outburst from Tommy in the car when I told him he was to go into the bathroom at the restsurant and blow his nose. He barked, “No I won’t!” I expected a big spill at lunch as his plates were hanging over the edge of the table but all went well.
Tommy is now upset because the method I’m using to walk the dog (each child in 10 minute shifts until the dog has some actino) is “unfair.”