by Twila

Feedback is always welcome: twila@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2008 by Twila. All Rights Reserved.

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“Hi, sleepyhead,” her mom greeted her as she entered the dining room.

“Morning,” Lizzie mumbled, kind of nervous with everyone else already at the table.

“Sit down and eat,” Allie said.

Lizzie sat and took the plate her mom fixed for her. She tried to hide in her seat, eating quietly and not looking at anyone. It didn’t work for her Mama.

“I want to talk to you in the study when you’re done,” Andy informed her.

“Yes, ma’am,” Lizzie whispered and then worried through the rest of breakfast. ‘Was she in trouble again?’’

“Bring your essay,” Andy added.

“Yes, ma’am.” ‘Okay, so maybe her Mama only wanted to read it.’ Lizzie only hoped it was good enough. She finished quickly and ran upstairs. After grabbing her paper, she slowly made her way to the study, suddenly nervous again, and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” her Mama’s voice entreated.

Lizzie entered and saw her Mama sitting on the couch. She patted the spot beside her and Lizzie obeyed the command, walking over and sitting beside her Mama.

Andy held her hand out and waited for Lizzie to give her the paper she’d brought in. Once she had, Andy quickly read it. She was quite pleased with her reading. Lizzie had learned much in the few weeks with them, at least on paper. Getting her to put it in practice was taking a little longer. Andy laid the paper aside and patted her lap, opening her arms. “Come sit with me.”

Lizzie relaxed slightly and was soon seated in her Mama’s lap. Lizzie could have lived right there.

“I’m very proud of you,” Andy began softly, stroking Lizzie’s hair as she spoke. “That was very well written. And I’m not only proud of how far you’ve come but at how you handled yourself last night.”

“But I…” Lizzie said but Andy held up her hand to stop her.

“I’m not talking about what you said to your Aunt, Lizzie. I’m talking about after that. You listened to the lecture I gave you, you obeyed me and did your punishment without any complaint or further disobedience. That’s what I’m proud of. Okay?”

“Yes, Mama. Thank you,” Lizzie whispered.

“Now, what I’m not proud of, young lady, is what you said to your Aunt or how you said it. I think you’ve gotten that message. What I want to know is if it’s going to happen again?”

Lizzie really didn’t understand that question. “I don’t understand, Mama. When?”

“Mom and I were planning on leaving after lunch. We won’t be back until around lunchtime tomorrow. Are you going to manage to behave?”

Lizzie blushed at the soft rebuke, but decided her Mama wanted a truthful answer.

“I’ll try, Mama."

“Elizabeth Ann, there is no trying, I’m afraid. You are not going to repeat your rude and disrespectful behavior again, period. Clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then I’m giving you this warning, young lade. If I get another phone call from your aunt like I did last evening, I am coming home and you don’t want me to do that. We clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“If you are having trouble, baby, call me? I don’t care if it’s for any reason. You should have called me last night before you lost it. Maybe I could have helped.”

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

“I know. But you need to understand that Mom and I can’t let you continue to behave like that. It’s not a behavior we are going to allow. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then what questions do you have?”

Lizzie just shook her head.

“Baby, talk to me. Am I going to get that call from your aunt?”

Lizzie shrugged, despondent. She really didn’t want to be left alone with her aunt again.

“Can you do me a favor?”

Lizzie didn’t respond.

“Can you help your aunt instead of fighting against her? She’s only doing what we tell her to do, Lizzie. The rules haven’t changed, only the person enforcing them. Does that make sense?”

Lizzie had to think about that a minute and then decided that she guessed that was true. “Yes, ma’am,” she said, softly.

“Then Aunt Heidi is in charge because we put her in charge to replace us. Still with me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then when you are smart with her or disobey her, it’s no different than doing it to me. Understand?”

Again, Lizzie had to think about that a minute. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Then I need for you to take everything your aunt says as if me or Mom were saying it to you. Close your eyes and visualize it if you have to.” Andy let that sink in and waited until Lizzie nodded slightly before continuing. “Then I also want you to help her with the kids, not hinder her, baby, help her, just like you help us. That’s going to take more work on your part, but I know you can do it. Do you?”

“I’ll try, Mama.”

Andy set Lizzie up and turned her face until Lizzie met her gaze. “Baby, I do not want to have to come home because you couldn’t behave. Please, call us before it gets to that, if you need to. Promise me?”

“I promise, Mama.”

“Good girl.”

Andy spent quite a bit of time just holding Lizzie and talking to her, reassuring her that she was quite capable of doing as she asked. Lizzie felt better after her time with her Mama, but what really helped her were the next couple of hours spent with her aunt and her mom’s. Lizzie saw the other side of her aunt. She answered her mom’s with ‘ma’am’ and obeyed them just like Lizzie and the kids did. This made Lizzie realize that her aunt was just continuing to obey them when she took over as the one in charge.

Andy pulled Lizzie aside one more time before they left. She had been watching her all morning and was a little more relaxed at the idea of leaving her.

“Baby, remember, if you have any issues or questions, call me. Okay?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Good girl.” Andy gave her a hug and kiss and they joined the rest of the kids.

Heidi had also had a talk with Andy and Allie, right after they had gotten home the night before. She had explained, again, exactly what had happened with Lizzie, how sh’ed handled it and gave her opinion of what was going on. Her sister and sister-in-law supported her totally, she hadn’t expected any less, and offered suggestions. Andy had said she’d talk with Lizzie the next morning and Heidi was much more relaxed and at ease after breakfast. Lizzie seemed to have relaxed and wasn’t angry at her (at least that’s how she appeared to be). Heidi decided to take her sister’s advice and did so once they had left.

“Lizzie, could you help me with lunch please?” Heidi asked.

Lizzie looked at her kind of confused for a moment and then agreed. “Um…okay.”

It was a start.

They made lunch in companionable silence. Once ready, they assembled at the dinner table. This time Heidi tried to step back and let Lizzie help with the kids.

Lizzie didn’t even realize she was doing just that. Katie needed help with lunch and it just went from there when Bryan needed help too – fixing drinks, needing napkins, etc. Lizzie enjoyed lunch and relaxed enough so that when Heidi asked if she’d put Katie down for a nap, she readily agreed.

Heidi put Bryan down for a nap and then assembled the other kids in the living room for a movie. After the movie, they all went to a nearby park. Heidi made a point of asking Lizzie to help keep an extra eye on Katie. She was happy when Lizzie agreed without complaint.

They had a fun afternoon and even stopped at a neighborhood pizza place for dinner. Heidi would never have even considered it the day before with Lizzie but after her behavior that day and asking her opinion on taking everyone there, she felt comfortable doing it. They had a good dinner. Lizzie took care of Katie, Heidi dealt with Bryan and Molly and Megan helped where needed. Heidi continued to give Lizzie responsibilities so after dinner, she was assigned to get Katie bathed and ready for bed while Heidi took care of seeing to Bryan. Megan helped Molly if needed. They all watched a short Disney movie before the younger two were tucked in bed. Again, Heidi asked Lizzie to settle Katie.

Heidi made a point of thanking Lizzie for her help. She was almost shocked when Lizzie thanked her for letting her help.

Andy and Allie called later that night to check on the kids. They were very pleased with the report from Heidi and Andy praised Lizzie for her helping out and Allie praised Heidi for thinking of how to motivate Lizzie. Both women were able to completely relax for their evening knowing the kids were happy and settled for the night.

To Be Continued....

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