Do you ever have one of THOSE days? Today, I thought it was going to start well. My girls and I snuggled in bed and all was well until they started tickling each other and I ended up getting kicked. We (OK, I) then ended the ticklefest and decided it was time for breakfast. I made oatmeal...yummy oatmeal, with raisins and cinnamon and sugar. Just thinking about it makes me want more.
Zac conquered his lolly-gagging-ness in school work today with a set timer. He's been taking two hours (wasted time, not working...really sort of looking into space, watching his baby sister play, pining for his legos...etc) to finish one assignment. I
know, with all certainty, that he could do these assignments in 20 minutes (max). So, today, the timer was set for 20 minutes, and he was told if he beat the clock, he'd get free time on computer games of his choice. Worked like a charm.
Then, I decided I was going to tackle some big chores today (why I do this when I know I'm a bit tired is beyond me...I think I'm a glutton for punishment). I thought I'd help the kids clean their rooms, and finish up some laundry. Now, I know that I usually have to give myself a pep-talk to be kind when helping the kids in their rooms, because their idea of how to organize/store/ use toys is much different than my own. I know I should lighten up, but I don't. No more details there.
Later, the kids asked if they could make candy necklaces. I had purchased the candy beads and elastic thread at the craft store's after-Valentine's Day sale. So, I said anyone who had finished breakfast could make one (this was to get my girls to eat their oatmeal, they usually don't). Chayce ran and finished her oatmeal quite quickly, and we set to work. Payge begged and begged to not have to eat her oatmeal but still be able to make a necklace. I figure that by the age of three, if you can beg and try to reason with your mother, you completely understand what's going on...so I did not give in. I told her to eat while I folded laundry, that I'd be right back, and we'd start her necklace if the oatmeal was gone when I returned.
Rather, I found this when I returned:
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| Sink...overflowing...see the bowl with oatmeal floating in it? |
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| Water...everywhere. |
And here are all of the towels we needed to clean up the mess:
She proudly proclaimed, "I emptied my bowl...it's in the sink, washed, so I don't have to eat it. Can I make a necklace now?" And then, right as I finished cleaning up the water..."Umm, I'm stinky." Did I mention it only takes me five minutes to fold a basket of laundry (yes, I've timed it!)?
Writing this out was good for me, though. Because as I read back over this, I see that many things went very right. I've learned how to motivate two of my children to do as I ask...now, to figure out the third.
