Teaching my kids

I am a stay at home mom. I have the time to make lunches, make beds, pick out clothes, clean rooms, pick up toys {you get the idea}... I take on the responsibilities that my children are capable of doing. I always thought that since I had the time & to show my love, I would do everything for them! I mean, isn't that what a mom does?!

 

I was reading an article in the Ensign several nights ago about raising resilent children. I started thinking of the things I do for my children, even my older boys 10 & 13. I do a lot! Two things that I don't do, is teach them how to do things themselves and the responsibility.

 

That's changed! {I know, it's only day 2, but learning that I needed to change was BIG!} My 10 year old wasn't happy with the idea of making his own lunch. He pleaded that he didn't have the time. I cheered him on. He ended up having 15 minutes to play on his Kindle. My 4 year old threw a fit when I wouldn't put his shirt on for him {not on me, on him}. I tried to talk him through, but he threw the shirt on the floor & stomped off mad. Today I taught him how to deal with failure and to retry. And when that didn't work, I taught him how to stick to something until it's accomplished {ie., to stay in his room until he put his shirt on}. He was able to work through it and get that shirt on under a minute. Such dedication! 

Tetris with the dishwasher

Happy Monday friends!

 

I have a confession... I secretly enjoy loading and unloading the dishwasher. Okay, really, it's not that exciting. However, it has to be done, so why not make it fun. I love making neat rows with the bowls, plates and cups. Am I OCD?! Maybe. Just a teeny bit!

 

Another fun thing I do... I have blue and white plastic bowls. When I'm unloading, I stack them in a pattern... blue, white, blue, white... you get the idea.

 

Maybe I spend too much time unloading. It makes me giggle that I take extra time to be creative with loading and unloading. I mean who does this besides me? Please tell me I'm not crazy!

We are back together

I was eating my chocolate Power Bar this morning, kind of sad that I wouldn't be drinking a Pepsi today. I've been trying to give up Pepsi because I would like to lose my pooch and little love handles. I tried giving it up several weeks ago. I was good for 4 hard days! On Monday, I thought, 'I can do this!' No Pepsi for 2 days.

 

Pepsi makes me happy. It's the reason I get up in the morning... okay, not really. I get up because I have kids to get ready for school.

 

Pepsi is a memory. Many fabulous memories. My earliest memory is when I was 10. My aunt Sherry and family were living with us in Arizona. My mom & aunt would stay up late toll painting while us kids were supposed to be sleeping. My mom & aunt would allow my cousin and I to stay up tickling their backs. They would share a couple sips of Pepsi with us.

 

Another moment is when my oldest son was 7 months and could sip out of a straw... his first taste of soda. I called everyone in my family excited!

 

Chilled over ice in a glass, sharing one with my youngest brother on his lunch break at my parents home in Mesa. Sharing one with my mom while eating homemade salsa & chatting. Going over to my grandma's house. My grandmas & my aunts 32 ouncers on the kitchen counter, country music blasting on the stereo.

 

Ahhhh, Pepsi! It brings me back. I love the special moments shared with family over a cold Pepsi.

 

So back to eating my Power Bar. That is when I decided I wasn't going to give up Pepsi. At ALL! I will simply drink more water throughout the day.

Yeup, picked this baby up today!

Spewing with craziness

Sunday morning my alarm goes off. It's time to get ready for church. I hit the snooze and tell myself "I can be late. It's okay, no one will notice." But then the good girl in me says, "Nope, get up! You have to be a good example to your kids." Naughty girl says, "It's just this once and it will be fine." The good girl says, "Ethan passes the sacrament and you need to make sure that he is there." AHHH! 20 minutes later I get up and get ready. But I don't want to. I'm mentally kicking my legs and throwing a fit.

 

We leave at our regular time.

 

I'm sitting in sacrament, no patience with my kids and the stuff all over the bench and floor...{I'm holding it in} I can pretend to have my act together and be calm... very, very calm. I can't even concentrate on the speakers.

 

Ever have that feeling that you can't pretend that you aren't going crazy inside anymore?

 

I go to set up my class. Everything is fine. The kids are great, but in my head I'm going nuts. I'm not into being at church, but I know it's where I need to be.... for myself and my children. I don't want to be a good example for the moment (really the entire day)... I'll get back to you when I'm ready to be a good girl.

 

I confess to the girl that I team teach with that I didn't buy any Pepsi the day before and may need to be a bad girl and run to Circle K for my 32ouncer! She tells me she has a can of cold Dr. Pepper in her car. Please get it, I beg.

 

A few moments later, I'm sitting on a little primary chair and popping the tab of my Dr. Pepper, grateful for friends that follow the spirit :o) of keeping a stash in their vans!! {Thanks Katherine!!}

 

My 4 year old won't go to his class. He wants to stay in nursery with me. I'm okay with that for a couple minutes. Couple of minutes pass and I tell him that it's time to go to class. He hides under the table upset. I grab his leg and drag him out of my class {Yeup, mom of the year award here}. I get him into the hallway and talk nicely to him about going to his class. It doesn't work out and he's back in nursery.

 

I do eventually go to Circle K for my 32 ouncer. I know {GASP! I sinned} Tell me something I don't know! I feel guilty. I keep the faith Heavenly Father understands me!

 

I don't like feeling crazy. I explained it to my mom as having Tourette syndrome. I try to be a good girl, look perfect, have it all together (which I don't) -  holding in my craziness will eventually spew out.

 

I am on depression medication {thank goodness for Heavenly Father and good doctors!}. I just started a little over a week ago. I was on it for 10 years and took myself off a year & a half ago. My husband completely supports me being on them. He's seen the turmoil I go through when I'm not on them. Depression is hereditary. It's a real sickness!

 

For now, I feel good. I have better control over my craziness, until it spews again.