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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Warning: This is a RANT!

Every Wednesday Chief hosts but I never follow her rules, but she doesn't care because she's cool like that, so here's my version. Hold tight on this one, it's been a long time coming.


She may look sweet & innocent (sometimes she really can be) but let me tell you, she is one of the main reasons I'm medicated.

Sassy is in desperate need of having her tiara knocked off.  At this point, I don't know if she will make it to "the teen years". Between her mouth & thinking she's too good, I don't know how much more I can take.

What kind of chores do your children do?  Specifically your tweeny daughters. I need to know! 

This clock is fixing to strike 12 on Cinderella Sassy.  She apparently thinks I am her servant.  She fusses when I make her clean up after herself, but less help around the house.  Yesterday, I walked into the kitchen & a box of Lucky Charms was on its side with cereal spilling out on the counter & onto the floor.  I thought it was one of the littles that did it.  I would expect something like this from a 3-yr-old, not an 8-yr-old!  I was pissed.

This is the same child that thinks she needs an I-pod, a TV, a cell phone & whatever else is on her mile-long list!  My baby does more to help than she does. 

What I say:  Sassy if you unload the dishwasher, I'll pay you...  If you get the clothes out of the dryer, (I didn't even say fold them) I'll buy you...  (When she refuses, the baby does these chores.)  Followed by a few choice words & threats.

What I meant was: Unload the dishwasher, get the clothes out of the dryer & put the clean ones in & I'll let you continue to live here & eat my food & go to private school. 

And don't give me that smart arse attitude. There's only room for 1 in this family & it's me.  You will treat me with respect. I'm your mother not your friend, so I could give a rip if you like me or not. 

And I do not like your brother more than you.  He listens (& he can't even half hear) & does what I tell him to.  If he disobeys, I only have to jack him up once before he gets the picture.  As for your sister, granted she has an attitude but at least she knows who's the ringmaster of this circus.

Sometimes I say what I meant to say, but apparently it hasn't sunk it yet.

At the beginning of the year, SHE came up with a chore list for herself & her siblings.  Well, that went over like a lead balloon.  The littles participated, Sass notsomuch.

Now, I have had enough! I am fixing to drop the freakin' hammer! I know they all are spoiled & it's partly my fault for not following through with my threats, but no more.  This time I'm serious!  I may can deal with the mouth (to an extent) because she gets some of that honest, but if I have to put up with that, she's going to start working or I'm not buying her another damn thing.  Except maybe some Silly Bandz.

So, what kind of chores do your children do?

And if you've got any tips on controlling her mouth, I could use those too.

Momma- The comment section is off for you.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

rant on sista, rant on......we all have to do it sometimes ;) lol

JoAnna Williams said...

My kids are younger ( 5 and 4) they have to clean up after themselves, wipe the counter, and table, vaccum etc. However on the chore chart they have the chance to earn 5 dollars a week (a quarter for every chore mon-fri) but they also have a behavior chart and for every X they get, not listening, talking back screaming etc.. they owe me a quarter. After the weeks over they usually have only earned like 2 of the 5 dollars.

Jenn said...

McKenna is 3 and we try to get her to help. She actually enjoys "helping" with laundry and dishes. The hardest thing is getting her to pick up her toys. We're trying to teach her that if you want to play with something new, put the "old" toy away...Lead balloon on that one.

I have a feeling McKenna will be mouthy and defiant just like Sassy is to you, but like you said, she gets it honest, which is no good. No good at all, sister.

I thought I was the only one who medicated because of my daughter. Okay, fine. I give. There's more to my medicated reasons than just her, but seriously...

Can we trade? I'll whoop Sassy into shape and you can whoop up on McKenna.

RN Mama said...

I. Hear. Ya.

I'm thinking about trading in my girls and getting poodles.

They have routine choirs they do everyday. It's very hardcore, so hold onto your hat. They make their bed, and one sets the table the other one clears it. Yup, that's it.

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

I have to admit... as a kid, I had very few chores. My mom stayed at home, I was the only child, and she said that cleaning the house was HER job. I was just supposed to be a "kid". Now that I'm a parent, I don't think I'll let my daughter get away with murder like I did!

~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom

Adrienne said...

I have my 7 year old son who is like going on 17 and he has really been pushing my buttons lately too...I am pretty sure I need to fix it now...Good luck with Sassy I hope she makes it to the teen years

Anonymous said...

I am starting to be taught by my children...I have watched the dog whisperer and now finally after years...am starting to get it. I am the pack leader! Give my kids a tail and make them eat out of bowls on the floor and I have it made.

We think this blog is awesome would like to invite you to join http://kitchengang.ning.com/

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Duct tape for the mouth...( I may or may not have threatened to sew my daughter's lips shut today...)
Chores include going around with clorox wipes & wiping doorknobs, surfaces, etc., dusting, keeping that h*llhole of a room clean, folding clothes, etc. Oh and pet care.

Unknown said...

I don't have to deal with this yet - heck, Baby H.I.T. is still in the womb, but if she follows after her father (and not her sweet, mother) then I sure as heck will have some little girl on my hands after a while. Growing up, we all had weekly chores and were given $5 allowance (it became $20 when we hit 8th grade). Basically, we had to clean our room (I cleaned, my sister picked it up - my mom was happy with either result) and clean one other room in the house - which alternated (so one kid wasn't stuck always cleaning the bathroom). It took us about 2 hours each week, but we learned to take care of our things.

And let's just say, in my house, not listening to Mom was NOT an option. We listened.

Oh, and if we didn't clean our room, she would let the mess pile up for a few weeks. Then one day while we were at school, she would go into our room and dump out all our drawers. We would come home to the biggest mess imaginable. After about 1/2 an hour of sulking, she would come in and help us clean it up and organize everything, but it definitely taught us a lesson...

Anonymous said...

Oh I hear ya! My 6 year old daughter has suddenly grown a mouth! I don't know where my sweet little munchkin went but I want her back. Seriously though, my daughter has walked into this stage of talking back when I ask her to do anything. She pretty much only has to keep her toys cleaned up and even that is like moving mountains! From there she has also developed the wonderfulness of ignoring what I say. I tell her to do something, she does not...I tell her to not do something and she does it.
Oh the frustrations!! Lord help us!

Laura said...

Preach it! I can't stand a smart mouth. Alise gets one warning every day. If she smarts off again, she gets popped in the mouth. We need to give Alise more responsibility, but right now, she takes her plate to the sink, picks up (sorta) and cleans the bathroom (supervised). She doesn't get an allowance right now.

Crazed Mama said...

My boy's (almost 5 and 61/2) have the following chores: take out the trash and recycling, make your bed, put away your laundry, match and fold socks, set and clear the table, feed the dog and anything else that I can come up with at a moments notice. Why you ask because I told them they will never have a wife or girlfriend if they don't learn to do chores. They have a chore chart and are earning silly bandz and time on their DS. Good luck, I see the future with my 2year old daughter and it's not pretty. Girls ~sigh~

Lisa said...

My kids are 24 and 26 and always had to clean up after their self. I once locked down the kitchen when they were teenagers and told them don't even think about getting a drink of my water out of my glass until you can clean up what you mess up. They get to be teens and lose their mind!

Amber D said...

You better take it easy on my sweet Sassy. Just tell that sweet baby to come stay with me for a while. I'll trade you my wild child for a week and you'll be begging for Sassy back!

Helene said...

Oh, believe me, I'll be back here checking on the other comments because I need to know as well. My kids don't do anything around here, except make a mess.

She gets away with it because she's so darn cute.

Unknown said...

I'm with Helene. My kids are younger (I have twins who are 4), and they don't do anything. Somehow I always end up cleaning up after them---because they don't listen/won't do it, and b/c I get sick of looking at it. Argh!

Elena Sonnino said...

I think Sassy might make a good friend for my Principessa. And yes, whether it is us or them, someone is going to need medication :)

Following from We Believe Monday Link Up
http://caramammasdayinthelife.wordpress.com/

BNM said...

You go MAMA!!!

Chief said...

My kids do everything... jsut not well.. snort

Thanks for playing! Ill take you anyway I can get you!

Mommyfried said...

I LOVED what you meant to say. I know that after I've gone a round or two with my daughter that sure would feel good. In theory my kids are supposed to keep their rooms clean and they alternate one week kitchen duty one week bathroom duty. Doesn't quite work out the way I would like but at least it is an attempt. My favorite threat is that I am taking away ALL electronics. When I say all that means anything that takes electricity or batteries. I actually took away light bulbs at one point just to show I was serious. The other thing I have done is to through a toy or what ever else may be offending me at the moment out the front door (stuffed animals are one of my favorites because we have a lot of sand burs hehehe). I have also taken bedroom doors off of hinges when they were slammed one to many times. When I get pushed to any of these extremes the kids know they are going to have to earn these back because I don't hand them over easily. Good luck and don't give up these blessings will be worth it in the end (so they say).

Serendipityissweet said...

She sounds a lot like my 8 yr old son. I wish I had some sage advice. Hang tough ;)

Tammy said...

6 to 10 was a tough time for our Princess. She is now 10 1/2 and it has FINALLY sunk in that she has to "Earn" her keep.
Right now she, keeps her room, ahem-CLEAN, helps as needed picking up around the house, and is completely in charge of unloading the dishwasher.
I find that a job that has a definate ending is best-such as the dishwasher, its done when its unloaded. Her room is an open ended chore that never really gets done completely.
Try with the "Its done when it is completely done" job laundry into the washer, and dryer, loading the dishwasher...etc. Hope that helps.
We were/are there and it will get better-just "Keep Strong"! Best of luck :)

Not Everyones Mama said...

Wait a second, did you visit my house and take a snap shot of my kid? No wait, he's an 11 year old boy who does the exact same thing. He likes to tell everyone he's a preteen.

Even the dr at his well child check had a talk with him about his manners. He made a rather rude comment that lost him his DS for a few days. I don't get it. Drives me nuts.

Let's see for chores - my 11 year old has to empty the dishwasher, organize/clean off the table and the counters, and sweep the floor. Basically get it ready for me to do the big stuff, I wash the dishes, counters, table, scrub the floor, etc.

My 5 year old, who has started in with some of her brother's bad habits even though she sees he doesn't get away with it, has to pick up the living room so I can vacuum.

The 3 year old helps whoever has more work to do. Though her brother is trying to train her on unloading the dishwasher, as if I'm going to have her climbing her short stuff up on a chair to put my glass plates away.

The baby, well, he makes the messes. (He just turned 1 Tuesday).

Everyone is responsible for their own rooms.

Needless to say, we fight every night about getting the stuff done even though they know that it's there to do and if they'd just do it it'd be done and they can play.

KK said...

You sure Miss Priss has not inhabited Sass' body?!

Messy Mommy said...

Kids are only 3 and 6 but I only have them pick up their rooms and toys. 6-yr-old thinks it's the end of the world and 3 -yr-old just flat out won't do it. If it's this bad now I don't even wanna imagine what it will be like when they're older.

So ya I have no advice. Good luck. :)

Paula @ Organizing Tips For Moms said...

My older are 8 and almost 6. They have 3 chores to do everyday (one is making thier bed). My 6 year old sleeps on top of his covers to avoid the bed making. My 8 year old does a good job with chores but needs reminders. I'm about to stop that whole business--she has a check list so I don't have to do the reminding. Ugg. I have been trying a new punishment -- adding chores. My 8 y.o. had to clean her first toilet this week. Talk about drama!!

Kmama said...

No chores yet, but soon, very soon. My kids are SPOILED.

Tracie said...

If you figure it out, let me know. I have the same issues with pampered pooch of a 10 year old who has a sense of entitlement and no work ethic. He won't do one thing around here.

sarah @ i run with scissors said...

ummmm... i most definitely have no help with controlling the mouth. But when I was growing up my mom "said what she meant" on a regular basis and although it was a version of world war III for my early teen years (and some of the later) I turned out pretty damn good. So just don't give up. And don't let her get away with anything. She's testing you... whether she means to or not.

GeckoGirl said...

Holy Cows Batman!!
Mine is 16.5 going on 17; she's pretty good at doing stuff around the house for me. The biggest threat I hold over her is her cell phone & car keys! So she's really helpful.....when she was younger her job was to keep her room clean, feed the pets, help unload the dishwasher and whatever else was asked of her. She wasn't much of a complainer until she hit 14; then you couldn't pay her to get off her bahookie and help!! Toug love and take away ANYTHING beloved to Sass to prove your point....make her EARN IT BACK. Good luck sweetie!!

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