Why is it that no matter how hard we housewives clean the kids never keep it that way? It seems that all I do is clean. They help with the house work, but I think that they make more of a mess than anything. The cats are cleaner than they are. At least You don't have to tell them to take a bath. I couldn't believe the kids bathroom when I went to clean it. I said to myself boy am I glad that I don't let them use my bathroom. Boys are SLOBS!!!!! Taylor is so neat and clean. She hates to get dirty. The boys would go days without a shower or clean clothes if I let them. I've even caught them pulling a Michele and Linda. That is stuffing stuff under the beds and closet. I remember all to well. Mom or Dad would say if I find stuff stuffed under the bed or in the closet you are in so much trouble. Now I find myself saying that.
People say why don't you let the boys do the dishes? I think they are crazy! When they are a little more responsible than maybe, but until then NO WAY.... I allow Ryan to wash his own laundry, but I never let him put in the soap. Can you picture what it would look like if I did? I told Brandon to use the new flushable toilet brush and clean his bathroom and he used it to clean the sink. So it left the sink blue and the toilet was still dirty. I can only imagine what it would have looked like if I didn't check on him when I did. ALL I have to say is WHY?????????????? Why don't they follow directions? How do people keep their houses immaculate? I try but it never seems to work.
Posted by Michele at August 29, 2004 08:36 PM
:55: :48: :57: I guess you know what I have to say about that don't you Shells. :57: Paybacks are a bummer.
You have to train them. You should see our place. Cassie and I are constantly going through the house finding stuff the kids leave laying around. We're always telling them to clean properly, and they are all teens. The rule here is if they leave something of theirs where it doesn't belong and I pick it up, they don't get it back for two weeks. Sometimes they don't even miss it. It's a never ending battle. It doesn't seem to be one I'm winning either. :sigh:
:48: It's an ongoing battle, Shell. As your dad pointed out, we still have to remind the "big" kids that today is vacuuming day, bathroom cleaning day, take out the garbage day, etc etc. They're getting a bit better about dish night. Anyway, kiddo, you have like 18 more years of this :57: oops :52: :wink:
Posted by: Cassie at August 29, 2004 10:21 PM:rofl: Immaculate? I just try for "healthy" - which basicaly entails keeping dust and actual dirt (mostly bathrooms and carpets) under control, dishes and laundry washed, and clutter low enough that it's not falling on people! :57:
Seriously, they are right - it's all in the training. I've been training Emily since she was about 4 to do simple chores like putting away silverware, folding washcloths, etc - and now at age 10 we've worked out way up to cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry. Not that she doesn't need reminding, because she does - a lot - and not that she does all of it without arguing - because she doesn't. :40: But I keep reminding myself that I'm not just "raising a child" - there's more to it than that - I'm "raising my child to be a Godly wife and mother" - and that's hard, specific work. :33: But if God thinks I'm up to the task, then who am I to argue? :2:
I was watching this great Christian speaker this morning that was talking about disciplining your children to show your love for them, but also about choosing carefully the things you get really upset about, and just gently guiding the rest as lovingly as you possibly can while still making sure they know that it's important. What he said really hit me - the more you get angry about, the less it gets their attention when you get angry. And it's actually likely to have more impact through gentle repetition than repeated burts of anger over things like neatness.
:sigh: Doesn't he know how hard that is? :33: :57:
Anyways... I feel your pain. :ouch:
Posted by: Nancy at August 29, 2004 11:30 PM