[day 18] keeping promises.

i have a thing about keeping promises. it's reflected in everything we do and to be honest, it's a contract. it's a matter of trust and integrity.

i didn't make it on time to pick up our boys from school today. as i drove home, papa dang put me on speaker and i asked our boys how school was and of course, i expressed that they needed to eat after they got home. if so, i promise to make them water balloons and play with them. 

as i drove into the driveway to park my car after 1.15 hours of driving home from work, dylan comes running to my car, which he normally does, and i see aiden from a distance doing the same thing. it came to no surprise that they had already finished their food and was ready for me to make them their water balloons. they wanted 60 total. i don't even know how i agreed to it, but i did. i guess, i felt guilty that i was at work and haven't seen them. it wasn't a big deal and as tired as i was, i did it. it didn't take long anyways.

i made 30 for each (my smarty pants (aiden) counted the balloons to make sure there were 60 total) and off they went in the front yard sharing endless laughters with each other. they tossed it against our house, on the ground, and even on the street. dylan almost hit a car driving by, but the driver put both his hands up because he knew it was all for "fun".

i love watching them smile. i love watching them have fun. i allow them to enjoy being kids because they've spent 7 hours at school and need time to enjoy. but most of all, i'm trying to lead by example. it's a matter of reputation. i've only broken promises as a way to discipline our boys due to their misbehavior and i'm quite the strong-will person when it's time to do so. i have no problem doing it for many reasons. i see it happen all the time where kids are disobedience because there was no meaningful consequences, which could be an issue later in life. 

as a result, part of keeping a promise is honesty. this is the trait that i want my boys to develop as they continue to grow. if you're a parent and feel that not keeping a promise would not impact your kids, i highly recommend that you think again.

love my boys. xoxo.