Sydni is driving us nuts

I’m having a baby shower! Please visit:

http://www.webbabyshower.com/mullen/

Well… Syd is at it again.  Little… insert bad word here, was caught with an inhaler in her purse.
Now, this is the THIRD time that Sydni has been caught with medication in the last month or so… and just to remind everyone, Sydni is EIGHT.  Last time it was Zicam… and actually the time before she took what she THOUGHT was a Tylenol from some kids at a park (except that it had an E on it…. which means it was probably more accurately Excedrin.  But for all Sydni knew, it could have been Ecstacy… she just DIDN’T know, and that is a BIG part of the problem.)  I’m not going to get too much into this here, because I’ve already been all over it with Linda, and I’m pretty tired and aiming to keep this short tonight.  Jerry was very angry with her… more angry than I’ve seen him in a very long time.  Which was probably a good thing, because it really drove home with Sydni just how badly she’d messed up.  I reminded him that we said next time she’d get a spoonful of hot sauce…see the thing about hot sauce is that it HURTS, and pain can be a very powerful teacher… but it’s essentially harmless, and in some ways, even beneficial.  But it still hurts.  So the thought is, hopefully the thought of having to have a very painful thing like hot sauce will deter her from ever doing this again.  So far… NOTHING has worked.  It’s like she thinks she’s above all of our teachings, all of our trying to tell her how harmful taking medications not meant for her could be.  And when I asked her what the medication does, she said it’s for people with allergies who can’t breathe.  The medication, by the way, was Atrovent.  Yes, and no.  It’s for the PREVENTION of bronchiospasm, and won’t do much good if you’re in the middle of an attack.  Plus, I just read up on it, and it says it should not be used by anyone under the age of 12.
For a smart kid, she can be pretty stupid.

Sigh.  I’ve got to go to bed.  It’s late.