I am tired of being a maid

[Haiku]

I have done everything you are supposed to do. I have explained to my kids that I need their help, and why. I have asked politely for help. I have thrown away things when they are left out. I have boxed things up and put them in the attic. I have nagged and threatened and had tantrums (which you aren't supposed to do).

 

My kids leave their stuff everywhere. They don't clean up after themselves, their room is always a mess, they drop stuff on the floor when they are done and walk off, they leave food plates everywhere.

 

They are nice, interesting, funny kids who apparently don't give a rat's @ss, as my dad would say, about the state of the house or the amount of work they foist off on me.

 

They have morning routines and afternoon chores, and I also make them help me clean up. But I get tired of everything being a mess five minutes after we clean up because they have moved on to their next mess, and I am tired of being the only one who cares, and I am most tired of watching them walk past the trashcan on the way to the sink, with a plate full of orange peels, and put the plate in the sink rather than taking the extra 30 seconds to takes to tip the peels into the trashcan as they walk by. I feel like the attitude is, "It's ok, Mom will take care of it." And I have never been a doormat, so I don't know why they do this.

 

HELP!

[Slipper]

One step at a time. Let them know that cleaning their plates off before putting them in the sink is a new rule. Stop and correct them everytime you see it going wrong. If you find a plate in the sink with trash on it, someone will rat out the offender. ;)

 

Make a list of what you want them to do and go one item at a time.

[gardening momma]

Who does dishes? How about if they leave a plate with trash by the sink, they get to do dishes?

 

If they leave a mess in a room, they get to clean the whole room.

 

Etc...

[sagira]

I live with this, and a 13-month-old whose job is to explore and strew around things around the whole house doesn't help :willy_nilly:

 

:bigear:

[SonshineLearner]

:grouphug: Yup... that's how it is here, too :) House could fall through the ground and they'd just keep on going :)

[Kertie]

I could've written exactly that a month ago, except my kids are younger (but certainly old enough to not throw things on the floor).

 

I realized that my bad attitude about it all was making everyone, including me, Miserable. Yes, I could make a case that fully justified my being upset. But the truth of the matter for ME was that I spent so much time flipping out over it all or just inwardly stewing over the injustice of it that...well, would YOU want to help a grumpy, ranting, always-irritated person? I wanted my kids to show me love by serving me (NOT in the slave sense), but I wasn't showing them love by happily serving them. I was not modeling the right attitude or behavior. Why? Of course I have a list of reasons;), but what it came down to was me being incredibly self-centered.

 

One day I decided I would get up and act happy about being in the house. I would act like I was happy in spite of the things that irritated me, and I would serve my kids with happiness--even if it meant singing loudly to keep from yelling in frustration. I discovered, of course, that my attitude spread. After two days, we were all in a much better state of mind. As I happily offered to help them more, they jumped to help me. Are things perfect now, 3 weeks later? No, of course not. BUT the atmosphere is WAY better, and a lot more gets done by a lot more people.

 

As for the individual things, like a plate of orange peels in the sink instead of the garbage, I guess we just have to repeat ourselves ad nauseum until the cows come home...which they won't here;). I do think having specific consequences that everyone is aware of WRITTEN DOWN helps. If x happens, y follows. And then the age-old, annoying "consistency" bit.

 

Now, none of that may apply to you, OP--maybe you have a star-studded attitude of joy:), but I thought I'd share anyway in case some of it is helpful to someone.

[Haiku]

maybe you have a star-studded attitude of joy:)

 

Oh yes. That's me. To a T. A little ray of sunshine, I am. ;) :lol:

 

Tara

[Georgiana Daniels]

I have done everything you are supposed to do. I have explained to my kids that I need their help, and why. I have asked politely for help. I have thrown away things when they are left out. I have boxed things up and put them in the attic. I have nagged and threatened and had tantrums (which you aren't supposed to do).

 

My kids leave their stuff everywhere. They don't clean up after themselves, their room is always a mess, they drop stuff on the floor when they are done and walk off, they leave food plates everywhere.

 

They are nice, interesting, funny kids who apparently don't give a rat's @ss, as my dad would say, about the state of the house or the amount of work they foist off on me.

 

They have morning routines and afternoon chores, and I also make them help me clean up. But I get tired of everything being a mess five minutes after we clean up because they have moved on to their next mess, and I am tired of being the only one who cares, and I am most tired of watching them walk past the trashcan on the way to the sink, with a plate full of orange peels, and put the plate in the sink rather than taking the extra 30 seconds to takes to tip the peels into the trashcan as they walk by. I feel like the attitude is, "It's ok, Mom will take care of it." And I have never been a doormat, so I don't know why they do this.

 

HELP!

 

:iagree:

 

We go through this periodically.

 

In the old days (when I was much tougher) the rule was if anything got left out X amount of time I tossed it in the garbage. Maybe I need to get back to that!

[RanchGirl]

Have you tried politely withholding the things that are your job until they complete their jobs? As in "what's for lunch mom?" "I'll let you know as soon as you put away the mess you made at breakfast."

 

"Can I get a ride to x?" "Sure, when you're ready. Ready means you've cleaned up all the things you took out today" (As you calmly turn another page in the magazine you're reading and child has to look and find his own mess - a good habit to get into instead of depending on Mom for a list of specific instructions like pick up this, put away that.)

 

If you are not averse to sugar, I would make a great dessert tonight, and let it be known that it is specifically for those people who have (a) cleaned up after themselves and (b) contributed to the household cleaning as well.

[Live2Ride]

Have you tried politely withholding the things that are your job until they complete their jobs? As in "what's for lunch mom?" "I'll let you know as soon as you put away the mess you made at breakfast."

 

"Can I get a ride to x?" "Sure, when you're ready. Ready means you've cleaned up all the things you took out today" (As you calmly turn another page in the magazine you're reading and child has to look and find his own mess - a good habit to get into instead of depending on Mom for a list of specific instructions like pick up this, put away that.)

 

If you are not averse to sugar, I would make a great dessert tonight, and let it be known that it is specifically for those people who have (a) cleaned up after themselves and (b) contributed to the household cleaning as well.

 

:iagree: yup...works here :D

[Gentlemommy]

My kids are younger, but we've had to take weeks 'off' from schooling heavy or going fun places to work on attitudes/chores. It means that for that week, after talking to them about expectations, I follow them around and do.not.let.them.get.away.with.anything. It's rough. On me. I don't use punishments or anything, so it's not a negative thing, it's just exhausting. So for example-

 

We get up, and I do not allow them to leave their bedroom until

1. Beds are made

2. Jammie's are folded under pillow

3. 'Day clothes' are on.

 

When they go to breakfast

1. They get their own plates, cups, and utensils.

2. If they are able the serve themselves breakfast.

3. When they are done, they clear their plate and put it into the sink.

4. They wipe their table spot and pick up any food that fell on the floor, wipe the floor down under their chair.

They do not leave the kitchen until these things are done.

 

And so on. I know my children have been taught the HOW part, they just need help remembering to stay in the habit. Usually a week of "boot camp" does the trick. I do not nag, punish, or lecture. I just point and say one or two 'cue' words-for example, "dish!" or "jammies!". They know what I'm talking about. For me, the biggest thing is to remember that it IS childish immaturity on their part, and not intentional. They just have a ton going on in their heads, and chores are not important to them like they are to me, kwim? They do not do it on purpose to aggravate me, though it can be easy to think that.:glare: I have to force myself to keep a calm, cool, and almost detached mentality about it.

 

We do have chore charts, because the girls wanted some pocket money. However, the chores they get paid for are 'extra' and not required. They do them if they want spending money, which they always do. ;) They daily, picking up after themselves chores are required as members of our family.

 

I think, if my kids were a bit older and I was being met with resistance, I might offer up a 'trade' system of sorts. If I do one of your expected chores, you get to do one of mine...which may be scrubbing toilets.;) Or, if I do one of your chores, I expect payment. They can decide to pay me or a sibling to do their chores, or save their money and do them. Of course this only works if you would be ok being paid to do their chores lol.

[goldberry]

No ideas, but :grouphug:.

 

Yesterday I informed DD that she would be staying in her room until it was clean, at which point she exclaimed, "I feel like a maid!" :001_huh:

 

I couldn't help busting out laughing! I said, "No sweetie, when I tell you to stay in MY room until it's clean, then you can feel like a maid. Maids don't clean their OWN room."

 

She, for some reason, did not appreciate my laughter...

[Denisemomof4]

Oh yes, I do hear you.

 

I just told dh and dd12 that they are welcome to cook for themselves anytime they want but I am tired of cleaning up after them. They are SO MESSY. I probably shouldn't have included dh because he is such a big help around here, but it doesn't matter what he makes, he never cleans up his pots or pans, and he never puts silverware in the dishwasher even when he does the dishes. He works from home wed/fri and on those days, and on the weekends, i have a sink full of silverware, usually either soaking in a nice glass and leaving scratches,or they are full of dried on junk.

 

I told dd today that she is to clean her pots, pans and stove after she cooks or she will lose the privilege to cook until she is 13. I mean it as I have had this discussion too many times now. She had eggs for breakfast and eggs were dripping down the outside of the pan, dried onto the stovetop, and dripping down the front of the stove.:glare:

 

 

I especially love it when people dump food, or better yet, COFFEE GRINDS, into the sink. We have no disposal as we have a septic tank. It is lovely to fish it all out. It is even lovelier when there is a sink full of watery sludge. Last week I made dd clean it out. Why should I always have to?

 

Sorry. Sore subject for me today. I am not nice when people don't listen to me. I make no apologies for that, justlike I get no apology for their not listening.

 

I have numerous times walked around the house, collected all the junk, and p,aced it out on the deck. Then I have everyone go through it and put everything in its proper place. It is much better since a swarm of flying ants infested the huge pile I placed out there years ago.:lol: i couldn't have planned that if I tried! People are better about picking up but dd12........ She is another story.:glare:

[Denisemomof4]

Oh yes. That's me. To a T. A little ray of sunshine, I am. ;) :lol:

 

Tara

 

Yes! This is me!!! I am SURE my family will agree.;)

[TammyinTN]

When my kids were younger I would simply stay with them until the task was done correctly. We redid it until whatever task was to my satisfaction. I checked everything that was on this chore list before they were allowed to do anything else. I was really tough when they were small, but it paid off well. Rarely now do I have to say one word about things. They just see it and take care of it. Being tough early off definitely pays dividends later. ;)

[LibraryLover]

I just don't think there is a magic fix to keeping a very tidy home with very small children living in it, and especially not if one is a hsing family, or has multiple children. There's always a project, there is always 'gear', there is always something going on.

 

I love things to be organized and tidy, and my kis are older and pretty good about it, but there are still times I have to avert my eyes to not stress. I see things others do not see. I get that, and its true they see and hear things I do not.

 

I have a a recycle bin in my kitchen, a compost container (for all peels and things not for chickens) , and another pretty container for any scraps and scrappings that are for the chickens. I try to make these containers not ugly, since they are on my counter. (Except for the recycle bin). A friend of mine who worked in the Pottery Barn catalogue section once told me such items 'add interest" to home and helps tell a family's story. She also told me PB layouts are mostly lies. They sometimes repaint corners of living or dinning rooms to look like cute bedrooms etc. Nothing is as it seems.

 

We can only do the best we can, remind our children, and set up our homes in ways that can minimize where junk is dumped. I don't see any truly healthy way to live with children in a home where it seems children are not living. ;)

 

It's not easy for those of us who love tidy and organized. Children tend not to be terribly tidy and organized. :D I'd rather a bit of a mess than no children.

Edited March 14, 2012 by LibraryLover

[butterflymommy]

Scraping dishes before they go in the sink is a house rule around here. Anyone who doesn't do it, takes the dish back out of the sink, scrapes it, then replaces it in the sink. Anyone who doesn't follow rules is subject to a variety of punishments and deprivations-- putting nose against the wall and count to ten, clean bathrooms, early bedtime, loss of TV/VG... etc..

 

Same for picking up after yourself. If they get sloppy they all help pick up the floors on command.

 

Rooms have to be clean and beds made before any fun (TV, VG) are allowed. That goes for me too!

 

That being said my standards for "clean" aren't exacting. It doesn't have to look like a museum-- just not embarrassingly filthy.

[Mimmy]

My kids do the same stuff but they are young so I figure I owe them a little slack. DH on the other hand should know better, lol

[Harriet Vane]

Oh yes. That's me. To a T. A little ray of sunshine, I am. ;) :lol:

 

Tara

 

:smilielol5:

[A.Balaban]

I think all of the other posters have some great suggestions- especially the one about starting small.

 

I think it about direction a lot in the beginning. Yes, you just cleaned up, but they need to remember to put a toy/book/plate/cup away before they take another one out.

 

I have seen pictures where families make coasters for every member of the family, and the "daily cup" after it is used, gets rinsed, and put back on the coaster so you are not searching for a lost glass/cup/sippy/bottle.

 

I have also seen "toy jails" where if an item is left out then it goes into jail and typically the kids have the option of completing an extra chore to "pay" for the toy to get out. If the toy gets left in jail for x time, I would donate it.

 

I am definitely using the "jail" idea when my kids get older. Lol

[mo2]

:bigear:

 

I feel the same way, OP.

[Harriet Vane]

I hear ya. I empathize. That is my world. I have no idea how to fix it. :cheers2:

[Momof3littles]

I live with this, and a 13-month-old whose job is to explore and strew around things around the whole house doesn't help :willy_nilly:

 

:bigear:

:iagree: except my youngest is not quite 2.

 

My kids are big helps, but it drives me nuts to find one sock, random matchbox cars, a hair barrette, a headband, etc. all strewn about the floor. Getting those things back to where they belong takes FOREVER because each has a different destination.

 

I have a longaberger basket that hangs on my steps and I put all little things that have to go upstairs in it.

 

Sometimes I hand each kid a plastic bag and they have to gather up their own random little items of the floor and return to the proper spot. THat helps, but it still isn't easy!

[Excelsior! Academy]

Have you tried politely withholding the things that are your job until they complete their jobs? As in "what's for lunch mom?" "I'll let you know as soon as you put away the mess you made at breakfast."

 

"Can I get a ride to x?" "Sure, when you're ready. Ready means you've cleaned up all the things you took out today" (As you calmly turn another page in the magazine you're reading and child has to look and find his own mess - a good habit to get into instead of depending on Mom for a list of specific instructions like pick up this, put away that.)

 

If you are not averse to sugar, I would make a great dessert tonight, and let it be known that it is specifically for those people who have (a) cleaned up after themselves and (b) contributed to the household cleaning as well.

This^

 

Children can be very motivated by food or enjoyable activities. Here it is no breakfast until rooms and zones are picked up and you are dressed. Same for dinner. You want to play outside? Sure! After your zone is picked up and activities are put away. :001_smile: Smile, rinse, and repeat until they get it.

[Tarreymere]

I just channel my inner drill sgt. That doesn't mean I'm mean or having a tantrum, it just means I'm loud and impossible to ignore. I'm usually in a great mood. A happy, loud, and totally in charge mood. They are more annoyed by a happy, positive, drill sgt.

 

I give orders, I don't nag. Nagging to me implies powerlessness. I am not powerless. I am loud and I give orders and I am in charge. I take charge when I wake up and I give orders and expect to be obeyed. I am proactive. I TELL the kids what to do before they have a chance to walk past the trash with the plate of orange peels. If I find a plate of such in the sink (rarely happens here) I find the offender and loudly order him or her to march immediately to the sink and properly dispose of the peels. Immediately. As in, I really don't care if you are in the middle of painting your toe nails or in the bathroom. You will go now. Oh, nail polish takes priority? No, now it doesn't because the nail polish has become mine. Maybe forever. I'll let you know. <insert big smile here>

 

I don't miss a trick either. Leave your matchbox cars in the living room and move on to play somewhere else? Loud and impossible-to-ignore me will come and find you and loudly with great good humor will order you to return to the living room to put away your cars. You will comply immediately because if you don't I will loudly and with great good humor remove whatever it is you are doing from you (snacks, drinks, toys, paper, doesn't matter) and escort you. Watching tv and prefer to ignore me? Sorry, I know where the plug is, and I can stand in front of the screen too. If you want me to go away you may as well give in and do what I ask. You won't be able to do much else until you do, anyway. Its just easier.

 

I am loud and happy and totally annoying and impossible to avoid. Best to just go along with the program. You DON'T want to be on my radar. :D

 

Later, after the proper training, we can go with RanchGirl's instructions. Play dumb about what the mess is and not only do you not get the ride to your friend's house you get IMPOSSIBLY HAPPY AND UNAVOIDABLE MOM back. Parenting you proactively. Any questions?

 

(Yes, those ARE brownies. But, unfortunately they are only for people who have clean bedrooms. Yes I know that your room is not clean and you say it's your sister's fault. Too bad for you. I'll just have to eat them myself since my bedroom is clean.........Oh, yeah, those cookies. Yeah, they are only for people who have not given me a hard time with clean up today. All that whining and crying, well.....people who whine and cry when asked to pitch in with keeping their own home neat don't get cookies. Too bad. Hope things work out better for you next time......)

Edited March 14, 2012 by Rainefox

[Haiku]

I especially love it when people dump food, or better yet, COFFEE GRINDS, into the sink.

 

That, and when dd17 does her very long, VERY curly hair over the sink in our bathroom, and then washes the hair down the drain.

 

She has, several times, had to take the pipes apart, fish out the clog, and put the pipes back together. Each time she does that, she does her hair in her bathroom for a while and is meticulous about cleaning out the hair, but eventually she starts migrating back to our bathroom.

 

Yesterday morning I woke up in the middle of the night to pee. The dog had gotten into the bathroom trash can and dragged it all over the floor. I didn't, at 3 in the morning, clean it up. I got up last the next morning last in a house of five people. It was all still all over the floor.

 

It's not so much that I mind cleaning it up. I mean, I have dogs; it happens. But four other people apparently thought it was just mom's job and couldn't be bothered. Apparently they all stepped over and around it while getting ready for the day.

 

:banghead:

 

Tara

[Haiku]

I'd rather a bit of a mess than no children.

 

Usually, I feel that way. Today ... well, today I'm not so sure. :(

 

Tara

[Haiku]

:smilielol5:

 

What, you don't believe me?? :p

 

Tara

[Tarreymere]

That, and when dd17 does her very long, VERY curly hair over the sink in our bathroom, and then washes the hair down the drain.

 

She has, several times, had to take the pipes apart, fish out the clog, and put the pipes back together. Each time she does that, she does her hair in her bathroom for a while and is meticulous about cleaning out the hair, but eventually she starts migrating back to our bathroom.

 

Yesterday morning I woke up in the middle of the night to pee. The dog had gotten into the bathroom trash can and dragged it all over the floor. I didn't, at 3 in the morning, clean it up. I got up last the next morning last in a house of five people. It was all still all over the floor.

 

It's not so much that I mind cleaning it up. I mean, I have dogs; it happens. But four other people apparently thought it was just mom's job and couldn't be bothered. Apparently they all stepped over and around it while getting ready for the day.

 

:banghead:

 

Tara

 

Oh! Tell dd17 in a loud, cheerful, and firm voice that she is not allowed to wash her hair in your sink. Smile and repeat. Practice the word "NO". Boundaries are healthy, right? You are helping her learn to be a good roommate down the road by teaching her to respect your boundaries.

 

Upon discovering dog mess that other people have ignored, immediately summon minions (I mean kids) and give orders regarding dog mess clean up. Smile cheerfully the entire time. Give orders to all minions on the premises so that all of them can share the wailing and moaning. Dismantle or disable anything preventing immediate action on your orders (like the tv). Smile. Stand over moaning child and loudly give orders on exact placement of dustpan, direct other child closely on wiping up microns of spilled goo, ect. Micromanage with great imagination and a big cheerful smile but be very careful not to do any actual work yourself. Annoy the crap out of the kids and make sure the whole job takes three times the amount of time it should. Make sure they are all involved. Next time they will clean it up before you wake up just to avoid the trial of having you supervise. :D

 

 

Honestly, isn't there a Machiavelli's Guide to Childrearing out there?

[amo_mea_filiis.]

We're starting boot camp soon. This means I have to stay on top of them for every little thing they do. As soon as dd gets out of the shower, I'm right by her making her pick up her dirty clothes, hang the towels, etc. The second ds rolls out of bed, toss the dipe, make the bed, get dressed.

 

Since it's only the 2 of them, I think I can do it. I waited until warmer weather so I can use that as my when-then or if-then. Outside will work fine for ds, but I have to do a little more to motivate dd and I'm still thinking about it.

[SKL]

Let them know how it interferes with your sense of peace. Designate certain rooms as off limits for their things unless they are physically using those specific things (they are not allowed to walk away and leave their stuff). Don't let them do the things they want until they have straightened up. Make them stay outside during free time until they learn how to properly use the indoor spaces.

 

To some extent, it may be necessary to teach yourself to "not see" the mess in some parts of the house. I have had to do this as a result of certain adults' behavior. Then spend the time you save (by "not" picking up after others) doing something you enjoy.

[Lizzie in Ma]

I have done everything you are supposed to do. I have explained to my kids that I need their help, and why. I have asked politely for help. I have thrown away things when they are left out. I have boxed things up and put them in the attic. I have nagged and threatened and had tantrums (which you aren't supposed to do).

 

My kids leave their stuff everywhere. They don't clean up after themselves, their room is always a mess, they drop stuff on the floor when they are done and walk off, they leave food plates everywhere.

 

They are nice, interesting, funny kids who apparently don't give a rat's @ss, as my dad would say, about the state of the house or the amount of work they foist off on me.

 

They have morning routines and afternoon chores, and I also make them help me clean up. But I get tired of everything being a mess five minutes after we clean up because they have moved on to their next mess, and I am tired of being the only one who cares, and I am most tired of watching them walk past the trashcan on the way to the sink, with a plate full of orange peels, and put the plate in the sink rather than taking the extra 30 seconds to takes to tip the peels into the trashcan as they walk by. I feel like the attitude is, "It's ok, Mom will take care of it." And I have never been a doormat, so I don't know why they do this.

 

HELP!

 

:grouphug::grouphug:

No advice, I deal with similar issues. Drives me nuts why every flat surface is a repository for STUFF!

[Shellers]

I have done everything you are supposed to do. I have explained to my kids that I need their help, and why. I have asked politely for help. I have thrown away things when they are left out. I have boxed things up and put them in the attic. I have nagged and threatened and had tantrums (which you aren't supposed to do).

 

My kids leave their stuff everywhere. They don't clean up after themselves, their room is always a mess, they drop stuff on the floor when they are done and walk off, they leave food plates everywhere.

 

They are nice, interesting, funny kids who apparently don't give a rat's @ss, as my dad would say, about the state of the house or the amount of work they foist off on me.

 

They have morning routines and afternoon chores, and I also make them help me clean up. But I get tired of everything being a mess five minutes after we clean up because they have moved on to their next mess, and I am tired of being the only one who cares, and I am most tired of watching them walk past the trashcan on the way to the sink, with a plate full of orange peels, and put the plate in the sink rather than taking the extra 30 seconds to takes to tip the peels into the trashcan as they walk by. I feel like the attitude is, "It's ok, Mom will take care of it." And I have never been a doormat, so I don't know why they do this.

 

HELP!

 

I go through the same thing and my kids are older (16, 14, and 11). My house used to be clean when they were young, but now all main rooms are cluttered with their stuff. I get tired of constantly policing them.

[Harriet Vane]

What, you don't believe me?? :p

 

Tara

 

:leaving:

[Harriet Vane]

:D

[HayesW]

I feel your pain.

 

I quit being nice. I quit being ugly.

 

I started talking and crying and yelling.

 

Now, I ACT.

 

I try to stay closer to them. When I see a kid drop something, I make him stop and pick it up immediately, as well as picking up something else left on the floor.

 

If I walk into a room and find someone's shoes, I find the offender and make them pick the shoes up immediately.

 

If I see a child with a snack on the SOFA instead of at the table, I throw the snack into the trash, or put it on the counter for eating later.

 

It is harder for me, but it is making things better around here.

[Rosie_0801]

I've been reading and watching too much Shakespeare. That thread title made my eyes bulge. :blink:

 

:lol:

Rosie

[Impish]

From cafepress ;)

 

[KungFuPanda]

Cut a favorite activity and use the tuition money to hire a maid :D

[KiinMI]

:iagree: I thought it would get easier when they got older. I was wrong, it's gotten worse!

[Miss Peregrine]

I just channel my inner drill sgt. That doesn't mean I'm mean or having a tantrum, it just means I'm loud and impossible to ignore. I'm usually in a great mood. A happy, loud, and totally in charge mood. They are more annoyed by a happy, positive, drill sgt.

 

I give orders, I don't nag. Nagging to me implies powerlessness. I am not powerless. I am loud and I give orders and I am in charge. I take charge when I wake up and I give orders and expect to be obeyed. I am proactive. I TELL the kids what to do before they have a chance to walk past the trash with the plate of orange peels. If I find a plate of such in the sink (rarely happens here) I find the offender and loudly order him or her to march immediately to the sink and properly dispose of the peels. Immediately. As in, I really don't care if you are in the middle of painting your toe nails or in the bathroom. You will go now. Oh, nail polish takes priority? No, now it doesn't because the nail polish has become mine. Maybe forever. I'll let you know. <insert big smile here>

 

I don't miss a trick either. Leave your matchbox cars in the living room and move on to play somewhere else? Loud and impossible-to-ignore me will come and find you and loudly with great good humor will order you to return to the living room to put away your cars. You will comply immediately because if you don't I will loudly and with great good humor remove whatever it is you are doing from you (snacks, drinks, toys, paper, doesn't matter) and escort you. Watching tv and prefer to ignore me? Sorry, I know where the plug is, and I can stand in front of the screen too. If you want me to go away you may as well give in and do what I ask. You won't be able to do much else until you do, anyway. Its just easier.

 

I am loud and happy and totally annoying and impossible to avoid. Best to just go along with the program. You DON'T want to be on my radar. :D

 

Later, after the proper training, we can go with RanchGirl's instructions. Play dumb about what the mess is and not only do you not get the ride to your friend's house you get IMPOSSIBLY HAPPY AND UNAVOIDABLE MOM back. Parenting you proactively. Any questions?

 

(Yes, those ARE brownies. But, unfortunately they are only for people who have clean bedrooms. Yes I know that your room is not clean and you say it's your sister's fault. Too bad for you. I'll just have to eat them myself since my bedroom is clean.........Oh, yeah, those cookies. Yeah, they are only for people who have not given me a hard time with clean up today. All that whining and crying, well.....people who whine and cry when asked to pitch in with keeping their own home neat don't get cookies. Too bad. Hope things work out better for you next time......)

This is awesome. Now a sincere question? Do you always put things away when you are done with them?

 

I think this where I fail. I am having the same problem as the OP( thank you for this thread!) but if I have stuff out, even 1 thing, they call me on it.

[Miss Peregrine]

Bumping. :)

 

Rainefox, do you still have to do this a lot, or has the drill sgt. diminished as they have learned not to leave stuff out?

[LibraryLover]

Usually, I feel that way. Today ... well, today I'm not so sure. :(

 

Tara

 

 

:D I hear that. Currently, my house is not in good order. It's really bugging me. I don't want to be drill sargent right now, and I'm waiting for a burst of energy to get at it. The kids do try, but I am looking forward to fall when at least one more of my children goes away to college. Gear and unsoaked cereal bowls does get old.

 

I don't think that I am going to be the sort lamenting an empty nest (as long as the children are well and safe).

[justamouse]

I heart Rainefox. :D