I would be planning a "mission trip" in her future. Maybe some charity work in a shelter or something. She needs to understand how the other 90% live. Perhaps if she had to live the garage for a week or two, with no shower or bath.

I made the mistake recently of getting cable TV. I've had cable Internet for a while, but they made an offer last May where they would give me basic cable with my Internet for $5 LESS a month.

I thought it would be cool to have Discovery, The History Channel, CNN, ESPN, etc. But now we have only 4 Channels: Disney, Cartoon Network, Nick, and Kids WB. Unless the kids are in bed, both TVs are on one of the 4 stations.

We kept Netflix, thinking it would be the "Mommy Daddy" movie. My son changes the Queue, and the last 5 movies have been kid movies.

We're taking "extreme" measures, having physically unplugged the cable from the wall or back of the TV twice in the last week. Basically, if the kids won't come to dinner, or do their chores, then the cable is turned "off" for the day. We get some whining, but they eventually comply.

My work is so busy, and hers is so busy, that we don't have time for movies anyway. We should probably just save the $10 a month.

So, I have a strong willed child, but when he figures out I mean business, then he falls into line. Actually, he's a model citizen at school and church. There, I have to worry about the middle and the youngest. They act like angels when parents are around, then attempt to "eat out" the pantry if we go upstairs to work. I've been thinking about locking the pantry with a key lock. Our freezer locks. If only the fridge would lock and we would be set.

The doc recommended a book called "Parenting with Love and Logic", so maybe I need to buy it.

Glen Austin