Honestly, it was a relief to not have to get up early and get everyone out the door this morning.
We had a little "Come to Jesus Meeting" here this morning.
I, ONCE AGAIN, communicated my expectations, we talked about chores and responsibilities, and we talked about how things are going to start running more smoothly around here.
I expect the next few days to be rough. It always is as we adjust.
I am pretty tough when it comes to this kind of thing. I tend to be more authoritative in my parenting, sometimes to the extreme.
I am just as stubborn as they are, but I find it harder to do with older kids.
They can be more hurtful with their words and actions.
Instead of just crying, like the little ones, they sometimes go "straight for the jugular" with their words in order to punish me for the horrible injustice they are experiencing.
I don't want to be their best friend, but I am a people pleaser.
That creeps into my thoughts as I have to lay down the law.
We followed our "dropping the hammer" time with some hot chocolate.
Then, we got to work.
Oh, by the way, my vacuum cleaner only has a short in the cord.
Thank goodness I don't have to buy another one right now.
Today I held the cord in the right spot while Abby vacuumed the floor. It was funny actually.
Dinner is in the crockpot.
The big kids are working on their Valentines, the little ones are taking a nap, and I think I might just go read a book!
You are a VERY GOOD MOM and are doing great with your kids by giving them expectations, etc. I know when they are younger that can be emotionally exhausting and tough. I have learned that the hardest part is setting those expecations of responsibilities and then following through after they are set. You will find that in the next 2-3 years (when your daughter is around 12-13 and son around 14-15) your kids will do so much more all of a sudden as far as the cleaning and chores. Just keep doing exactly what you are doing now. Now my son does all the mowing, snow shoveling, taking out trash etc. and he is 15 and he knows how to clean, even though he does not like the domestic stuff as much as the other stuff. My daughters who are 13 and 9 do so much of the house cleaning now, even the deep cleaning like floors, sinks, dusting, and toilets, etc. It helps me so much when I can be the one responsible for the main floor and the kids do the upstairs and basement level themselves. So just keep doing what you are doing-you and your kiddoes are headed in the right direction and as you continue to be stubborn with your expectations and their responsibity then everyone in your family will reap the blessings and benefits. Have a great rest of your snow day!
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