The Saw episode

Over a year ago, we picked up a little Home Depot tool box and tools for Nathan to play with. It has been a great little set for him, with the exception of the hammer (for obvious reasons) and the saw. Both toys have been constantly taken away and hidden in the house for misuse. Whether he is hammering the walls, furniture or his brother - they've all spent some time in 'time out.'

About a month ago, the hammer made a trip to the trash can. Too many times had the hammer been miraculously found, and then misused again - so I told him to put it in the trash can. It made little or no affect on him. All steam was taken out of my discipline technique.

This week, however, the saw was misused and was therefore placed in the trash. What a difference a couple weeks makes. He has constantly talked about his saw, in the trash can. When the garbage truck came that week - he made a mad dash for the back door, and sadly commented on his saw going away, on the garbage truck. I was so impressed that he made the connection, and was pleased that I had a new discpline technique for whenever a toy was not used correctly.

No, sadly enough, that was not the end of the saw story. Just the other day we were on our way to church (a daily trip), and we passed a garbage truck. Nathan shouted, "Look mom, there's a garbage truck with my saw in it." I'm not sure if he thought I would pull the garbage truck over and rescue his saw or what, but I was impressed yet again that he had made the connection to that garbage truck having our trash in it.

As we drove past the dump on our way home later that day, I pointed out to him that the garbage trucks dump their trash in the dump each day - and that was the place of rest for his saw - for forever.

That was a big mistake.

Several times a week now, as we pass the dump, Nathan has to give the eulogy for his beloved saw. He recounts all the things bad he did with the saw (sawing the wall, the furniture, and his brother), he tells the journey of the saw from the trash can to the garbage can, the garbage truck and then to the dump. As we near home, just 3 miles from the dump, he is almost finished with his eulogy and typically will say, "bye saw, see ya later"!