Tired of threatening

Sheesh.  It's tough being a parent, but today it sucks.  My kids are out of control, and it's our fault.  I leave home at 4:20am and get home around 6pm.  It's only temporary, since our busy season ends on Christmas Eve, but right now, it's killing me.

Kevin plays mom AND dad every morning, getting the kids ready and off to before-school care.  Then, after work he picks them up, goes through backpacks, gets homework started, and cooks dinner.  After I get home, there is one hour before it's time to start showers for the girls.  We aren't here enough to "parent".  Knowing that this will end 12-25 doesn't help my frazzled nerves, or Kevin's.

Today was the last straw.  Brett didn't do his chores, because he "couldn't find the vaccuum."  It was in the living room, behind where he was sitting.  Monica didn't tell us about, or do, a book report, then lied to her teacher about it.  Oh, and her coat is at school again...for the weekend this time.  Natalie has a habit of taking FOREVER to leave when Kevin picks her up at after-school care.  "I want to draw one more thing" "I took my shoes off, I can't find them" "wait, I didn't tell Ms. Suzanna goodbye".  After a 10 hour day, he isn't to skippy on waiting.

He was to freaked out to actually dole out punishment.  Sometimes you know you'll go to far if you deal with something, so you wait to calm down.  I talked him off the ledge on the way home and told him to let it go.  I'd be home in 15 minutes, and I'd be the *heavy* this time.  He's always the bad guy.

As soon as I got home, I tore into them for all the crap they've been pulling for weeks now.  I yelled too loud, told them I had no interest in hearing their side (I am big on letting them tell me their side of things), and then I gave them their punishment.  No TV, video games, computer, or radios tonight.  No electronics.  Read, play a game, or sit quietly, I don't care. 

This doesn't sound like a horrid punishment, even to me, but you should have seen them.  Holy crap!  I could've beat them with a big club and gotten less of a reaction.  Monica crawled in bed, covered her head and cried.  Natalie sat on the landing halfway up the stairs and cried.  Brett just sulked off to his room (oh yeah, this ain't HIS first rodeo).

The biggest part of me (my ass?  no wait, that's not where I was going with this) knows that they needed a wake-up call, and that they've been getting away with pushing us for too long.  A small (the mommy) part of me, however, wants to say "ok, you're being good now, you can watch TV."  I won't.  I'm stronger than that, but I am such a soft touch sometimes.  I expect them to go to bed out of boredom early tonight.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.  Maybe not.  I could always remove some electronics and sell their computer.  I don't think that will be necessary, though.

Deep down, they're good kids.  Better than most.  The problem is us.  We haven't been taking the time to "parent" them.  We've been those taller people who bring home money and yawn a lot.  3 more weeks.  Give me strength, Lord.  3 more weeks.