Monday, August 29, 2005
I remember when I was about 8 years old, my mother went on "strike." We ALL remember that day. It was a Sunday and only Aaron and Kathy were free of the consequences that come when your mother goes on strike. They were still babies. She wouldn't even take us to church. So, we stayed home and cleaned the house and frantically called all of our neighbors to see if any of them were willing to break the Sabbath and take us to the grocery store to buy her some Haagan Daaz. We were desperate. I think we even made a sign for the front door explaining that if the house was a mess it wasn't Mom's fault cause she was on strike.
Today I told my three boys that I was done being their mother for the day. Pretty much the same thing my mom did 22 years ago. I suppose in the 7 hours that they've been awake I've had my fill of being hit and kicked and spit at and told "no" and ignored and disobeyed. I finally caved in and let them have it. I love them desperately and I have the HARDEST time disciplining them--they are so darn cute. But their behavior is out of control and if these little boys are ever going to grow up to respect their wives, then I'm gonna have to buckle down sometime and give them a tiny dose of reality, even if they are only 3, 4 and 6. And as my sister Kathy pointed out, we never hit or spit at my mom--at least not that I can remember. And on the rare occasion that we shouted "I hate you" as we stomped up the stairs, we paid the ultimate price of the "spank stick" administered by Dad. Sure, we caused our share of trouble and there were many days we made my mother crazy, but we at least had enough respect for her that we never assaulted her in any way.
So. . . my three "adorable" little boys were marched right upstairs and tucked in their beds with a single book and told to stay there until I came to get them, which I said would be in "a very long time." And I explained that I would not be making them dinner or snacks tonight and that they would have to wipe their own poopie bottoms and get their own drinks as well. Sounds silly to an adult, I'm sure, but my boys about fell apart at the thought of no snacks and no dinner. I realize that ultimately, the problem lies with me and the way I've been disciplining them day in and day out and that perhaps I've been letting them get away with far too much. And as a result, I need to change my parenting techniques. But for today I quit! I haven't had a vacation, a pay raise, a bonus, a sick day, or even a pat on the back for all the mothering I've been doing. Today I'm taking the afternoon off and watching a stupid soap opera and eating some chocolate. Tomorrow I'll read the book about all the things I'm doing wrong.
posted by Shana # 2:13 PM 
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