Detour (Updated)

I was just walking downstairs to start typing about some amazingly positive things that have occurred lately. I still will, but I had to take a detour to the family room to change the channel on the kids' tv. My 12 year old son had control of the remote and all the younger kids were sitting on the couch, staring at the tv. Our one-sided conversation went something like this:


Me: "Why would you even begin to think that 'Sex Sent Me to the ER' would be an appropriate show?!?"


Me: "And why would you let the little kids watch this?!?"


Me:"Since you obviously aren't using good judgment, I'll be selecting the tv show. Hmmm. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse looks like an appropriate show. And don't even think about touching the remote without permission unless it's to watch Disney or Nick!
.
I'm supposed to be de-escalating situations, not making the tension escalate.


At least I didn't hit him over the head with the remote ;-)


So I already know that it's pointless to ask a rhetorical question that just makes a kid defensive. But at that moment in time, I didn't really care. I was just frustrated. Had my therapist been there, her conversation would have gone more like this:


"Riley, it looks like you're really curious about this. Do you have some questions I could answer? Maybe we could talk about it in private later. This show probably wasn't the best choice for an appropriate show. It seems like we need to discuss what makes a show or movie appropriate or inappropriate for you. Would you like to talk about that now or later? If you don't want to talk about it now, would you like to find another show or would you like to find something else to do?"
.
When I told Dawn this story, she said her response would have been to plop down on the couch and ask, "What did I miss?"
.
Pretty sure I should try to stick with the therapist's version :-)
.


.