a little bit of flattery goes a long way

Yesterday I came home early from work to get ready to go to the Drive-In with Donette. While we were waiting for K to get home school A went down to his friend nicks to play. After about 20 minutes A came home and told me the Tyler threw mud on him so he had to change his shirt. I wasn't quite sure why Tyler through mud on him so this prompted a few questions. Aaron said he though mud on him because he is S.T.U.P.I.D. (new rule in my house....if talk bad you owe me money) That answer wasn't good enough for me so I pressed it a little bit more. He never really gave me a good enough answer but I told him that he needed to tell Tyler if he threw mud at him again I was going to have to talk to his mom. Not even 10 mintes later A is calling me and telling me that Tyler through mud again only this time it was at John so I needed to come down there and talk to his mom.....oh goodness, I hate confrontation. It is so uncomfortable. Why did I threaten to talk to this kids mom? I walked down the street and decided that this time I would talk to Tyler myself and that I would tell him why we don't throw mud and how there can be rocks in it and it can hurt our friends and it also can ruin clothes and bla bla bla. SO that is what I did. I talked to Tyler and he seemed to understand me and he said he wouldn't throw it again and I even reinforced to him that next time I would have to talk to his mom and he said ok. After that ordeal was over I was talking to A telling him his sister was going be home soon and that he needed to come home in about 15 minutes when Tyler looked at me and said "you're beautiful" I looked at him and smiled and said "thank you Tyler" and then he said "you're really pretty too!" Talk about making my day. This kid is learning early....very Eddie Haskel