When your kids' discipline punishes you too

I'm back! I've been gone for a long time. The month of July is so busy. I hope you've all been enjoying the summer!

Here's a concept that I'm struggling with. When the punishment I give to the kids also punishes me.

Here's the scenario:

Olivia was being sassy (what a surprise!). I told her if she continued to be sassy, then we wouldn't be going out of the house and we'd stay home for the day. She did, so into her room she went. About 20 minutes later, my neighbor called and asked if I wanted to meet for lunch with her and the kids (she has 3). I SO wanted to go. It's been so hot around here so we've been stuck in the house anyway. I told her sure, then realized Olivia was already told we wouldn't go anywhere.

What to do?

Conventional parenting would probably tell you to stay home. But I've never really been uber-conventional.

So, I decided to go since the other kids deserved to have some indoor playtime and I wanted to visit with a friend. Olivia sat. Just sat. She wasn't aloud to play, talk, smile at (yeah, it was THAT kind of sassy) her friends. She was miserable.

It worked! I still was able to discipline her without punishing myself. I probably should have thought of a better punishment to begin with, but this worked on that day.

Damn....this parenting thing is hard.