This part sucks

So we arrive to pick the children up from Grandma and Grandpa's.

The children played secret agent all day, and my dad taught them how a criminal syndicate is organized, how to "turn" a person in the organization, and what blackmail is, and how to use it to force people to give you information.

That is frikin hilarious.

So as we arrive and start talking, the children decide they are going to play hide and seek with us, though we are having conversations.

They were found immediately.

Then, in the car on the way home, the boy was all excited, we told him to calm down, and as we pulled into the driveway, he was flailing his arms and poked his sister in the eye.

So I told him that is what happens when we tell him for 15 minutes, to calm down and he doesn't listen.  Then the next day the same thing happens.  And the next day and the next.  Same action, same result.

Then it was shower time.  He didn't want to.  He started yelling.  He locked the bathroom door. Wife had to tell him to unlock the door, and tell him to get in the shower.

5 minutes later, the water is still not on.

She goes in to check, and the boy is crying.  Why?  she asks... "I have to be honest mommy, I didn't wear the white socks and I didn't use the lotion on my feet.  And my feet are still peeling."  Hug hug, reinforce reinforce,  love, get in shower.

The typical getting in bed crap happens, and at "tuck in time", he says to Wife that we love his sister more.  Because she gets good grades and doesn't get in trouble at school.

So- my question is not whether I love one or the other more- I love them both equally.

However, my interaction with him is more difficult.  That's true.  I have to reinforce with him, the ways to behave toward other people.  It's FAR more difficult.  I want him to be a good adult, a fulfilled kid who can play and have fun with other kids.

I also NEED him to listen to the lessons I try teaching him.  Which is the biggest problem.

He simply "forgets" or ignores from one day to the next.  I can tell him... "Boy Child, brush your teeth with a toothbrush.  Using a Q-tip doesn't accomplish the task, because it doesn't hold the toothpaste well, and also doesn't get in between the crevices in your teeth.  A Toothbrush is specifically designed to clean your teeth properly.  So can you use the toothbrush from now on, and we can use the q-tip to clean between your toes instead."

"Sure dad. WhatEVER. "

"Ok, cool.  thanks"

Next day- Q-tip toothbrush.  Seriously.

It's not that big a deal.  It's not difficult, it's not that I'm asking for much- it's just constant ignoring and reinforcing the same thing over and over, and being ignored.

It's MADDENING.

Now- remember, WRAP THAT SHIT!