Sometimes I swear my life is straight from the Groundhog Day movie.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE it. But let’s be for real, we literally do the things, in the same order, every single day.
And what is worse?
I say the same sentences EVERY DAY!
Sweetie, did you make your bed?
Nicely?
If I go in there, am I going to find you are telling the truth?
What about your jammies? Are they on the hook?
Did you brush your teeth?
Where are your socks?
Whose turn is it to unload the dishwasher?
Why are you still in just your underwear?
Who is going to help Mommy do chicken chores?
Who left all their bedtime stuff in front of the fireplace?
Who left on all the bedroom lights?
Why is there toothpaste ALL OVER THE SINK AGAIN!?!?!??!?! I just cleaned this bathroom yesterday!
That is just morning, how about Clean up Time before lunch is served:
Did you put the toys away?
Should I go check?
How about the Play Closet? And your room?
You know I charge 10 cents for every item left out, right?
That’s what I thought, go try again.
Have you gone potty lately? Quit honking your pee pee.
Paxton, there are no monsters in the bathroom. You don’t need the light on, there is a window!
Avery, why did you change into dress up clothes? It’s LUNCH TIME and I sent you in to clean, not play!
We don’t eat lunch in Princess clothes, they get too dirty.
No, we are NOT having PB&J’s for the 4th time this week. We are having {Insert leftover name}!
What? You loved it the other night!?!
Sorry darlin’, you are going to eat it, and you are going to LIKE IT.
And let’s not forget Supper time:
Why are you under the table?
If you weren’t messing around, your water wouldn’t have spilled. AGAIN.
Don’t talk with your mouth full, please!
Avery, we are almost done and you haven’t taken one bite!
Who is feeding Sophie their scraps? Stop it, I don’t want to clean up dog barf later.
It is Tylan’s turn to talk, he listened nicely as you shared your Good, Bad & Blessing of the day, so please show him the same respect.
Uh, did you guys ask to be excused?
What do you say to Mommy for supper?
Have you cleared your spot?
Did you get the dish rag and wipe it down?
Was the rag WET even?
Why is your chair still out? Push it in!
Don’t set your dishes next to the sink, rinse them and load the dishwasher!!!!
Please people, this is not a difficult task…..AND IT NEVER CHANGES!!!!!!!!
So sometimes, I lose it.
I do.
Simply because I am tired of having to ask! I holler, “GET BACK OUT HERE, PLEASE!!!!” Plop down the rag on the table, and huff and puff in exasperation, as I wait for them to try, try again.
Well, one particular day I had an epiphany at the end of lunch…..
I could holler for the two littles to get back into the kitchen, and clear their spot, wipe it and rinse their dishes, PLEASE!!!!
OR
I could make this a fun learning time and possibly come up with a chart or rhyme, SOMETHING to help them remember what steps to take once they have been excuse.
God hears and answers a Mother’s “I-Am-Going-To-Lose-It-If-You-Don’t-Help-Me!” Prayers, because in the next millisecond, this little sing-song is what popped into my mind:
“Clear your spot and wipe it down,
Or Mom’s smile will be a frown!
Load the dishwasher, push in your chair,
Or Mom will have to pull out her Hairrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!”
You have to drag that R good and proper, oh and act it out, of course! They came running, and they came smiling and giggling.
It was in that moment I remembered that I was to teach and instruct them, but I was also to show them love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness….you get the picture.
Instead of saying the same sentences AGAIN, I had the opportunity to make life fun. To smile and giggle instead of roll my eyes and sigh.
Here is a video of the kids saying the rhyme.
Haha, catchy right!? They grin every time, and quickly set to work to do their tasks. The big kids, too!
Sooooo, does anyone have a rhyme for toothpaste in the sink?
Cause ya’ll, that is just NASTY!
Hugs, T
4 little Fergusons 