Thursday, June 28, 2007

No fun stuff to show you.....

and I'm sick about it. Stamping is my therapy girls, and I haven't gotten any serious stamping time in days. I can't stand it.

I am at my wits end with the boys. We are about one month into summer break and they are driving me crazy. This morning they started fighting the minute (and I am SO not exaggerating here) the eldest woke up (right before 8a). I let them hash it out for a little while I finished my blog reading, but then I marched up the stairs and read them the riot act. If all they were gonna do the second they wake up is fight, then they are obviously bored and will be put to work. TV got shut down. Someone left the bag of Malto Meal cereal on the table after eating some (they are constantly leaving their cereal boxes on the table, never taking the time to put it back in the cupboard) and I asked who did it, and neither one could agree to who the culprit was. Fine. No more cereal today for breakfast, and none tomorrow either. So there boys. How do you like them apples? Then, I sent one downstairs to clean the basement, the eldest took a shower for work, and then they both got lessons in laundry washing cuz I'm DONE washing their laundry. This is gonna be the summer they learn how to fend for themselves and see how much work I do for them that they don't appreciate.

Youngest Son will be expected to do his laundry on Thursdays, Eldest Son will expected to do his on Fridays. It must be started and finished on that day alone. They learned how to separate colors and how to run the machine. They will be expected to fold and put away on their designated day as well. Enough is enough. Youngest Son did a fabulous job staying on top of moving clothes from washer to dryer in an appropriate fashion and timeframe, all the while mowing the front lawn (Eldest Son will mow back lawn tonight or tomorrow. They switch off every week). He finished it all before noon. We'll see what tomorrow holds with Eldest Son, as he's not as domestically talented as his Younger Brother (nor cares to be). Grrrr. It's going to be one loooooonnnnnnnnnggggggggg summer at this rate.

So friends, I'm sad to say, no card to share today. It bums me out. My plan is to stamp tonight, when all the cherubs are in bed and are unable to bother me.

Please don't get the wrong idea after reading this post. I'm not a mean mom (most of the time they think I'm pretty cool), but I do have expectations for behavior around here and will not tolerate constant fighting and disrespect. I love these boys dearly, but there are limitations to what we (hubster and I) as parents will tolerate. I wouldn't be doing my job properly if they went out into the world and didn't know how to fend for themselves because they were coddled and attended to constantly. Learning how to do the laundry is a step in the right direction toward their own independence!

If I don't get any stamping done tonight, someone will have to come rescue me and peel me off of the ceiling, cuz I'm gonna lose it if I don't get some soon!

Thanks for listening to my whining and complaining for a second day in a row! You guys are the best!

Amy

26 comments:

  1. Their future wives will thank you for teaching them to be self-sufiicient. Good for you! As for stamping, I'm always better in the morning...too tired by evening. Except my children are up with the sun, so I'm not stamping then either. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my gosh...I can totally relate. My kids are 9, 6, and 3. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the summer. My DH works afternoons, so he is gone for most of the day.

    I hope you are able to get some stamping therapy tonight. I'm hoping for some as well. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7:56 PM

    This makes you a great mom! I remember when my mom decided she was done doing our laundry...if we didn't have the clothes we needed then it was our fault! Good foryou!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are absolutely right to teach them domestic chores. No woman in this day and age wants a man who can't look after himself! HOORAY to you for teaching your boys to be future, independent adults. Sorry no card though, as I love your work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Way to go Mom! So good to see a good solution - getting those boys doing something constructive instead of just letting them fight all summer! You're also doing a huge favor for your future daughters-in-law - they will kiss your feet!

    ReplyDelete
  6. If they start doing windows can I borrow them for a day, seriously you are merely helping them to become independent adults, and that is not bad.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous9:08 PM

    Bravo! I agree with your teaching of life lessons. They will thank you later. Mother first... friend second..... doormat never. Have a great night and dream of stamping tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My boys are 10 and 12 and thankfully tomorrow is the first full day of summer vacation. I think it's great that you're getting the boys to do some of their own things... my 12 y.o. mows the lawn (hates it). They are the ones who must sort and fold the laundry... but soon they too will be doing it for themselves!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous9:23 PM

    TOTALY FEEL YOUR PAIN!

    I think its GREAT THAT you are teaching your boys to do laundry & house cleaning. I had many college roommates that had NO CLUE how to clean or do laundry... those kids are "deprived" if you ask me. So KUDOS to you... Your a GREAT MOM!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am so right there with you. My 2 have spent a lot of time arguing. We have 5 weeks until school starts back, but I'm not counting. ~LOL~

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have an only child (age 6) and I can still relate- some mornings she come in our bedroom and start right in. Since school let out I have a lot less time to stamp. And we are moving so my daughter gets an extra month of summer vacation (3 months!)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I quite doing my boys' laundry years ago, cause when I emplied out the hamper and found folder clean clothes that didn't put away, that was the last straw!! So now they are 21 and 24 and they do laundry just fine.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous10:29 PM

    you go girl! And stick to your guns, otherwise it will be all for naught. Hope you are getting some cardin' time in today.

    ReplyDelete
  14. My mom didn't teach me how to do laundry - and she did it all through college, so my hubby had to teach me! LOL! Good thing his mom taught him, or we'd have been wearing dirty clothes the first year of marriage! :) I hope you got some stamping time in, I know how cranky I get when life takes away my toys!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous5:33 AM

    Amy,
    I promise you...I could be you! I laughed and laughed when I read your blog! I've got two boys and everything you say.DITTO DITTO DITTO!!!! The boys are the light of lives....HOWEVER.....It have been very hot here in Virginia...so not a whole lot of outdoor play.....I do love the summer.....but some days.....
    Blessings to you Amy.....Elizabeth Glass

    ReplyDelete
  16. You go Amy!! You should definitely be teaching them this stuff because I can't tell you how many times in the dorms in college we were having to teach the boys how to do their laundry because they kept dying all their clothes pink.
    ~Melissa

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've got your son's kindred spirits at my house--a 16 yo and 13 yo. It's times like this that I wish I lived on a farm and could send them out to do chores like mucking out a dairy barn. THAT would cool their jets! I've found pushups work better than fussing at them--that old "Drop and give me 50" line seems to work at this age. Sending calm mamma thoughts your way :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think we all feel this way at times....it makes you human! Good for you for HAVING expectations and sticking to them!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:42 AM

    GOOD FOR YOU!!! As a former teacher I saw all kinds of fun teenager behavior and I was like you....NOT IN MY HOUSE! (or classroom) You are not being mean at all...you are being consistant and fair...AND A PARENT! I applaud you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:44 AM

    I feel for you, but I must say -- IT WILL PASS! DD was a total alien from about 11 - 15. And DS turned totally obnoxious at about 16. Fortunately (I think) those time periods didn't coincide. They are now 21 and 18 and for the most part get along well, which was true other than those aforementioned time periods. And before long, they will be gone and you will miss them. But, good for you to put them to work. They need to learn those basic skills.

    Hope you're getting some stamp time now.

    ReplyDelete
  21. you go girl!!! we all know how it feels....good luck!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. You're not a mean mom. You're a great mom! I felt like my mom sent me into the world unprepared. I was #5 of 6 kids and I think it was just easier for her or one of the older kids to do it by the time I came along. I learned everything on my own out of neccesity. I can relate on the kids fighting issue too. It's a universal problem--no matter the age or gender. I think I started counting the days until school started the day after school was out for summer vacation! Lol!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hey Amy,
    We as parents (especially stay home moms) have THE toghest job on the earth...duh I think we ALL know that. My friends having been raving about this book by Lisa Welchel (Blair from Facts of Life) called Creative Corrections. I ordered a copy from my Christian bookstore and they just called to say it's in. IF the title alone fulfils my need for help it's well worth the investment. Give it a try...it might help you keep your sanity for the summer and years to come !!! :) All the best. Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  24. Amy,
    You're doing a GREAT job. I gave the "laundry chores" to my two kids (now 21 and 18) about 4 years ago. I am a SAHM and we also own 3 dogs (used to be 5!!!) Fortunate to own a large home that everybody needs to help keep clean. My husband is in sales and travels A LOT and I own my own small business in addition to being a SU Demo. Believe me, you are really doing your kids a favor...they might not know it yet and I'm sure your nerves are fried...BUT...in the end it will be GOOD for all of you!!! Hang in there....

    ReplyDelete
  25. What!?!? You mean it doesn't get easier as they get older!? And they still fight! haha - just kidding, I'm not that naive! Come October, my boys will be 6,4,2 and newborn... and this mama will make sure that all four of them know how to do laundry! I grew up in a household of girls vs boys chores and I think that everyone should know how to do everything :) So horray for you! And may God grant you patience as you "teach"... you might need it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Mean mom??? Not at all!! They need to learn how to fend for themselves and learn what it is that Mom does all day long too! :0)

    ReplyDelete

Blog Widget by LinkWithin