The Setting:
Friday the kids did not have school. So we piled in the van and went to grandma and grandpa's house and then out for lunch. It was a miserable rainy day. The miserable part had nothing to do with the rain.

The Main Storyline:
I think we had a chance to do some cathching up with the kids' great-grandparents. But I honestly don't remember anything but Claire stomping all over every nerve in my body. Every time I turned my back this little girl would harass whomever was closest, take something away from them, manipulate them to do her bidding, cause them physical harm, threaten them with nothing less than evilness...and when I turned back around....she would straight-faced-lie to me.

The Ending:
I became Claire's best friend for the rest of the day. Wherever I was, Claire had to be. Whatever I did, she had to do too. Whatever I was watching on television, she had to watch. Whatever she told me, I had to question. The only entertainment was the story of the boy who cried wolf. No playing games unless i was. No playing with siblings unless I was. No exceptions. I was her new best friend. She was my prisoner.

I have this horrible feeling that Claire's future may hold a parole-officer-like- "friend".

The Result:
I think that this form of punishment had some sort of sticking power. The next day she woke up and said this was going to be a great day. Just give her a chance to be good and she promised she would. I felt things were going great until last night when I was tucking her in bed and I asked what she was going to do tomorrow to which she replied....

"Be naughty".

At least she is catching on to the "thou shalt not lie" commandment.