Recently, my sons ganged up on me refusing to allow their sister to go somewhere – saying I was too strict … (bring it on, I thought!). They say I have the toughest rules. When they were little and accused me of this I would say, “When you weigh as much as me, you can make some rules.” Can’t use that one any more. Then I went to, “When you are taller than me, you can be in charge. ” Nope, not that one either. Now, I have resorted to, “This is my house and I make the rules.” Very democratic of me, right?
You decide. Here are my top 5 house rules:
1. Pick up your room. Yes, it’s true. I do ask them to pick up their room. When they start paying me rent I may loosen my grip on seeing the carpeting under all the clothes on the floor — how can they even tell what’s clean???
2. No TV or games during the week unless all homework and lessons are done and even then I may say, “go read a book.” My kids tell me that every other parent allows their kids hours of TV and game playing. Most days I just want to throw the electronic devices out the window (unless the Badgers are playing). Is anyone with me on this?
3. Take your head phones out of your ears when I am talking, during a meal and when you are going to the bathroom. Look, they aren’t listening to me even when they don’t have those things shoved in their ears. I just want the illusion of some attention. Is that too much to ask?
4. Toilet seat down when you are done. Do I really need to justify this one?
5. I had a rule about sounds coming from their bodies. You know the ones I’m talking about. My son used to argue that he had to let the “sounds” out of his body because he was sure that if he didn’t they would make him sick. He was 3 at the time. He’s still saying it. Sometimes you just can’t argue with the logic of a kid.
Have a wonderful day!
theyearof50 