The chaos in our house has increased this year. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with me, I just simply feel incapable of attending to every child's needs. Perhaps I have my expectations for myself set too high. Either way, I'm not happy with how I'm doing as a mother. I want to show each of my child my never-ending love and complete confidence in them, to listen to every story, answer every question, etc. But I'm so frazzled between all the stages I can't focus on anyone. Especially because Brigham takes up most of my everything.
Anyway...Christmas brings so many things, an amazing spirit, excitement, love and so much more but it also adds more fidgeting, fighting, etc. etc. The last week has been awful in our house and I'm not proud of my reaction to it. The other morning, my girls had about 10 arguments before eight o' clock. I was done and sick of yelling at them. I had a quick thought and decided to go with it (very uncommon for me).
I grabbed a piece of paper, walked into the girl's room, and kindly asked each of them what they wanted for Christmas. Once they told me and I wrote it down, I asked them to follow me. We walked outside and I lit the paper on fire. They immediately started bawling and saying their sorry and they'll never fight again. I made sure the whole thing burned and then I asked them to go back and finish getting ready for school.
I thought for sure that would be enough to get their attention. But as soon as I picked them up from school, they were arguing within minutes. And a fire ignited inside me, I was about to blow a cap. So sitting in the driveway, I told them that if they even had one little tiff, I'd show them a Christmas gift and get rid of it.
And what do ya know, ten minutes later, I walked to my present closet and got out a gift. Walked in and asked "who would like this gift?...well now none of you get it." That didn't go over so well but now they know I'm serious about it. I keep asking them if its more important that they get gifts or that they show love to one another because they love each other. That just doesn't work. So now, all I have to do is threaten them with another gift. I'm totally a mean Mom!
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| Its too bad because I would've liked this gift too! |
1 comment:
HAHAHA! I love it! I am a mean mom too. I've threatened to cut up clothes (that they like, but I don't particularly) and if they don't follow directions, I'll do it! I am aware that it is crazy. But I'm pretty sure years ago the answer was physical abuse. So I'll just stick with my alternative punishments.
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