Playing the Bad Cop

Being the "bad cop" is exhausting.....how many of you parents find yourself in that role? is it more often the mom? Daddy gets to come home, wrestle on the floor, shoot hoops in the driveway, and sit at the table drawing super-heroes, while mom is picking up wrappers from the floor, putting clean clothes on the steps, hoping a child actually takes them up with them, and keeping kids out of the cookies so they don't spoil their dinner....at least, at my house!

2 of my children just spent a week with the Bad Cop while Good Cop went to Nett Lake Indian Reservation with our daughter, Sophia, and a bunch of college students. The bad cop got lots of little projects done around the house, but whew, we had some battles. You see, the bad cop follows through with consequences....they're the one who requires 3 more bites (or more) before leaving the table....the one who doesn't let the eye roll slide and insists children respond with "yes, mom" when you talk to them.

So when my husband got home and resumed the good cop playing and tickling and ice cream in the middle of the day, it was a relief for everyone. Because as exhausting as it is to be the Bad Cop, it's gotta be even worse living with the bad cop!