Thursday, January 14, 2010

Because I care

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to leave me a comment, or to send me an email. The last time I pleaded for people to say hello, few answered, but, this time you delighted me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Also, more than one person pointed out that they aren't given an option to comment one my blog, if a girl is hankering for some feed back, that could sure bring her down! Have any of my other bloggy pals had issues with this, or has fate only smitten my blog?

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My children have a new resolution too, they just don't know it yet. This year they are going to have more respect for our home, their belongings, and for me. For far too long, I have allowed them slack when they would cry for their Daddy, letting it serve as an excuse for me to let things go. They are taking advantage of that. They have come to expect that it is appropriate to take advantage of me. No more.

I am tired of everything they have getting trashed. With a Tasmanian devil of a three year old, and an eighteen month old explorer, anything that is stored at any less than four feet of height, is fair game. My older children though, should recognize their obligation to care for their things. They should exhibit enough pride in their belongings to care for them appropriately, by putting and keeping them somewhere safe. No longer will I replace things that have been eaten by dogs or broken by babies.

Clothing. The laundry situation at my house is out of control, and here are a few reasons why. First and foremost, my washer has been recently 'fixed' but that 'fix' only brought about limited relief. I can only wash on the first two settings. I can no longer use the coin laundry as my crutch because my Hubby is rarely here to watch the children so that I might. My children are allergic to putting their dirty clothes in baskets, I have to unearth them from under beds, in the far back corners of closets, and in cabinets. It's ridiculous, and I'm not doing it any longer. I'll wash what makes it in the basket only.

Chores, have ceased to exist in my children's minds. They are being reinstated as of today. No chores...no play time. They will be allowed to wallow in self pity in their pigsty upstairs if they won't cooperate. Perhaps that will give them incentive to clean up. I have let them camp in my room for the last time while I pull all nighter in order to clean their stuff. I warned them last month when I did it, it appears they didn't listen. I am not going to cave.

I am tired of back talk. I have listened to the last, "what did I say that was wrong?" My children are an exceptionally bright bunch. They are not however, smarter than their mother...yet. Therefore, I am going to stop playing the fool. There is acceptable and unacceptable. They are going to recognize that I'm done with their mouthing off. Period. I have cut these children much slack because of the adjusted home situation, with Hubby being gone, but, they've had plenty of time to readjust, too much, in fact. A new leaf just turned over, and it is high time I get my children to recognize that.

My husband and I sacrifice a lot for our children. Perhaps too much. The reason that we live 350 miles apart is because the school situation would be, we feel, detrimental to them. I don't expect our children to recognize what we do and be grateful for it. I do expect that I, as their mother, shouldn't allow for them to make a difficult situation harder. Their carelessness, and irresponsibility is my job to turn around, or else, it will haunt them for the rest of their lives. What may be hard for me to do now, is a gift that they will cash in on, ten fold, in their futures. Times are changing at the Proud House. They are changing for the better.




6 comments:

  1. HOLY....
    good luck. i sense some bumpy times ahead... transitions to new powerlines tend to be sort of bumpy. but i'll be watching and wondering how its going as I'd love to flatout copy everything you said...

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  2. They're good changes, indeed. Still, I'll be thinking of you as you take back the lost ground.

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  3. Word, Sister! I've got your metaphorical e-back.

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  4. Sounds like a plan to me. When you've whipped your own house into shape, I'm buying you a plane ticket to california so you can do the same to mine. :) Or, I guess I could try it myself.

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  5. Wow! This makes me want to whip my crew into shape as well!

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  6. Grab those riens and don't let go! All this will help with the organization too. You go girl. I'm really trying to do the same.

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