The things we catch ourselves saying sometimes…

First, the preface:
As of late, Caryse has become quite enamored with scripture reading. When she passed off her first reading book at school ("Pat sat and sat"), she insisted that we purchase her a scripture set all her own. So we got her a cheap triple combination and some little marking stickers to go along with it. I was sure it would be a phase, as a new set of sciptures tends to be with most of us. But tonight we read 2 Nephi 32:8-9 and inserted sticker number 42. We read a scripture story and insert a new sticker every night. She's very diligent about it.

And now the dumb thing we mothers sometimes say…
It was a long day at our house. I was worn down, as the troops had been even more unruly and busier than usual (if you can believe it). I was desperately trying to convince Caryse to clean up the barbie jungle in the living room before bedtime, because I knew I didn't have the stamina to do it. (And we all remember the time that Trent stepped on a miniature barbie in the dark of night and suffered a puncture wound from her small but cruel plastic hand). As she continued to distract herself and ignore me, I lost my patience and resorted to threats. And that's when I said it…

"If you don't pick up every one of these Barbie dolls in the next five minutes, you won't get to read a WORD of scripture tonight!"

Now that'a a rock and a hard spot. Talk about a threat you don't intend to keep. So, of course, I had to offer her some really easy form of reconciliation, and then help her do it. I couldn't go back on my threat (because that's like turning your back on hungry lion), and yet I couldn't be that mom that took away the scriptures as a punishment.