I am up tonight at about 4am...why? Because of anxiety, laundry and messes! I am prone to anxiety...but what does not help in the least...is piles of laundry out of control and messes all over the house. The last two days or so I have gone into hiding mode. Which never gets me anywhere, but sometimes I just can't deal with the clutter. It makes me insane and I just want to pull the covers over my head and pretend like it doesn't exist. So I do.
Now I am up and more ready to take on the world today. I did one load of laundry and now my washer isn't working. My beautiful 4 year old front loading washer...it won't turn on. Yes I checked the plug.
Now what...oh Steve is going to be upset and I really don't want to deal with that today. I really don't want to have to wait for a repair man to come look at it, and I really don't need a repair bill.
The kids are officially out of school. Yeah! Now comes the hard part...keeping them from the computer games all day, every day...I have tried lots of tactics...open to ideas. We have timers with codes etc. They either disregard the code or they team up and stay on all day long.
I hate being a mean mom. Why don't they just listen and obey? Wouldn't life be much easier?
I am going to have to be mean I guess. They don't pick up their stuff unless asked 10 times. They leave crap everywhere. I have systems, they know them...there is a place for everything...they just don't care...or they wait for me to do it. I can't do it all. I get overwhelmed by all the stuff. Why is it hard to hang a coat and bookbag on a hook? Why can't you put your shoes where they belong? If you want to keep something...put it in your room, not on the dining room table right before dinner.
I just want to have a fun and happy life for my family. If things were picked up around here, we could be more free to do other things. Why do I have to threaten and yell? Well, ok I don't have to yell but I do...they don't hear me or acknowledge me otherwise.
Why do I have to be in a bad mood because I have to be mean to get things done around here. I am growing resentful and ticked off in general.
I know I am telling you all and I should be telling them...I have and I will continue, but I don't think it is sinking in...or ever will.
I can't believe my washer is not working...I am going to cry...I am not kidding. I feel sick to my stomach.
I would love to leave you with optimism...and how today will get better...but it just isn't in me...I am going back to bed...so much for getting a jump on the laundry mess. Well at least sorting is done...for all the good that does.
Pray for my washer...I hope it heals itself.
Welcome to teenagers! Find a door that locks and when things are left where they shouldn't, quietly pick it up and lock it away. When they need it again it has to be earned back with a chore. Dishes need to be done? Toiliet cleaned? Laundry moved? Garbage out? Too soon you'll be where I am. Quiet house. Remote is where I left it, very little dishes to do and I can go longer than a week before I have to do laundry. Hugs. Kathy
ReplyDeleteI feel for you girl. The washer thing....so aggravating!!
ReplyDeleteAs for the chores.... I agree with Kathy B.
If they don't appreciate their stuff, take it away from them. We would ask our kids one time to pick up their stuff, and if they didn't, then we confiscated it. It went in a big black trash bag, and they had to earn it back. Believe me..... one experience with confiscation cured them of their laziness.
Also, we had a 'job jar', and if the kids got out of line, they had to pick one, or two, or three jobs out of the job jar. We felt like our time as parents was valuable, and if they couldn't mind or if they wanted to bicker it took away time from us. So, then they would have to pick jobs from the job jar. Busy hands are happy hands!! No time to disobey, or bicker.
The key was that they would never know what job thy would get. It might be sweeping the kitchen, or folding the towel drawer, but it might be writing everyone in the family a note of appreciation.
Hope these ideas help. I know I've taught many R.S. home-making lessons on training our kids with job jars, and an appreciation for the family.
Have a great day!!!
Kerin and Kathy, I'm making a job jar today... Confiscation begins after the last warning at breakfast. Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI SO know where you are! I'm there too! I remember my mom saying the same things when I was a kid. It can be so frustrating and it does seem to help to get it out and vent! I'm sorry your washer broke down on you. That can be the very straw to break a worn out momma's back. It sounds like you need a girl's day out so you can have a break from the kids, the laundry, and the house.
ReplyDeleteP.S. - I'm a yeller too... I hate it, but mom was and so am I... dang it! I think people who say they never yell at their kids are lying!
I hope tomorrow is better!
It's the same thing all the way over here in PA!
ReplyDeleteI'm going crazy with all of the stuff everywhere and kids that will "get to it."
Even our washer is not working right!!
Same boat - let's commiserate over ice-cream.
My Mom & Dad had 5 kids.....they loved it when we wouldn't be good. We got to pull weeds. I'll tell ya', that was a huge thing....we were given a cold bottle of water, sunscreen a cool collar and wide brim hat (this was in 1960's & 70, yep, I'm old). I pulled weeds once, some of the older ones, it would take all summer to get the drift..... ha ha Virginia
ReplyDelete