A few nights ago I couldn't find my pillow or slippers. The slippers I could live without, but I was miserable without my pillow. It's like my security blanket - I can't sleep without it! Sometimes, the kids take our pillows to build forts, but I couldn't find it in any of their rooms.

The next day, after a miserable night sleep, I asked the kids where it was. Joshua got a sheepish look on his face. The previous day, after a horrible fit of nastiness, he was sent up to time out on my bed (since Daniel was sleeping in the boys' room). Joshua decided to punish me, so he shoved my pillow and slippers under my bed. He was right, he did punish me.

I can't stand this passive-aggressive behavior, and unfortunately I have several people in my family who employ it. I don't know how to teach children not to do this. Joshua is particularly bad - if I put him on time out for 5 minutes, he'll stay for 15 just to show me!