I woke up this
morning a bit later than usual, but still in time to get ready.
As I woke the girls up and started getting them around, I had to step
over a million things (maybe a *slight* overstatement) and there were
other problems. The trash can was full, there was no toilet paper
in the upstairs bathroom, and there was a KoolAid stained cup on
the dining room table. ARRRRRGGGGG!!!
Being the person I am, I
started yelling. "I'm sick of being treated like a maid around
here! I will NOT walk around picking up after people who are
*PERFECTLY* capable of picking up after themselves! This is a
bunch of *CRAP*!" and so on. It was ugly. I hate when
I do that. I can talk rationally and not yell, but I didn't use
that discretion today. Damn.
Tonight, when the girls got
home from church, I made an announcement. All three children
would spend the next 15 minutes cleaning. Take the garbage out to
the curb, take all of your stuff to your room, put all shoes and jackets
neatly in the closet, and generally pick up. 15 minutes later, I
was happy, nobody complained, and life was good. Why do I blow my
top instead of talking rationally? Why am I a "yeller"? Why
don't I use my brain more often. Any kid can handle 15 minutes,
but screaming "clean the house" is a bit overwhelming to me, let alone
a kid.
Sheesh. Sorry
kids. Yes, I will tell them that myself, not just in my
journal. I will admit that I could have handled it better.
I made a mistake, and left my kids this morning under less-than-perfect
circumstances. I'll try not to let it happen again. I love
second chances.
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6 comments:
You inherited that yelling thing from your daddy: It's a coping mechanism designed to keep you from murdering someone or killing yourself.
Well, dear, that's a battle I fight also! All we can do is ask forgiveness and start each day determined to try to do better. Why not make the 15 minute cleanup a daily thing, so you at least "feel" like someone is helping? I recently had to just stop washing any clothes Bubba didn't have in his basket because it was driving me crazy picking them up all over the house and getting mad each time I did. ;) - Barbara
My mom used to do that ALL the time! "This not a hotel!" "I'm not your maid!" And I resented it at the time, but we got through it.
I fight the battle daily. It's never "their turn." I need to print out a schedule!
I am a yeller too. Mornings are the pits!
I remember saying to my daughter that I am not the maid around here and I do not have to pick everything up. This was when I was working 12 hour shifts, 7 days on 7 days off, with an hour and half commute one way(NO SLEEP!!) She told me that I was supposed to do that because I am the mother! I quit washing her clothes that day!
I was a yeller also. Age and the growth of my children (5 of them) cured me. I don't have the energy to yell anymore. I'm not advocating this as a lifestyle but hey.....things happen. I really like what your Mom said. My children love me and are very loyal so the yelling didn't do a lot of damage.
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