Monday, December 03, 2007

Fun Monday - Blast from the Past (year)



Robinella is our host this week and this is what she wants:

Take a moment in this last month of 2007 to reflect on the past year. Okay? Done? Now…

In honor of exhaustion, color and self-love, I present you with this week’s assignment. I want you to dig through your blog files and show us your best effort. Why you consider it your best is up to you. C’mon, you know you have a favorite - show it to me one more time.

Oh man, she said this would be easy.

I am, if nothing else, prolific. With the exception of this past November when my writing time was taken up with other things, I have been a near-daily poster. That's A LOT of posts to weed through. This weekend, I have painted my livingroom, babysat my granddaughter, cleaned house and worked on the garage some more in a halfway successful search for Christmas decorations. Last night, I remembered that today would be Monday, so I dutifully sat down and started going through my blog. Got through February before my eyes began drifting downward. However, I did find one that made me laugh all over again. In light of Brittany Spears' problems since that post, it is actually all the funnier. Presenting THE MOMMY AWARDS:


YOU ARE THE WORST MOM EVER!!!!

Thanks, honey.

Last night, my son and I went to Ken Po. This, being the first full week back at school, he had homework, but he didn't bring it with him to do while I had MY class. He said he'd do it when we got home. He didn't. He said he would get up early and do it in the morning because he was "so exhausted from that hard workout." Guess what?

We had a little chat this morning about his being distracted by his toys, and that he needed to put them aside and get his homework done. Little chat quickly escalated in the face of his defiance to being dragged to his room and being given a couple of swats on the be-hind and being told to think about our little conversation because the repercussions could be bad.

I am not this kind of bad mom:

WMEBrittany

When I'm pissed, I'm THIS kind:

WMDRabidDog

You wouldn't like me when I'm pissed.

I'd taken today off (comp day from working during the holidays) to take the cat to the vet (Z-boy let him out after being told not to), so I cancelled the appointment and now have the whole day on my hands. Guess what I'm doing?

Every homework "distraction" is being packed into a box for a week. If I get arguments, it will be two weeks.

He's been a real pill ever since Christmas and it is time for some TOUGH LOVE. Amazingly, my husband agrees.

25 comments:

Jill said...

i would say this totally makes you an awesome mom. not mean, not unfair. totally awesome! way to go!

Jenny, the Bloggess said...

Tough love is good.

Except the dog is giving me nightmares. Bad timing, I think.

Please don't bite me, doggie.

Kim said...

Excellent judgement. How did he take it?

A Slice of My Life said...

That's the best kind of "worst mom" to be. Hopefully that helped him focus a bit more. :)

Susan at A Slice of Life

Anonymous said...

I actually think back on this post when Aaron is up to his no good shenanigans.

http://anticsofacrazymom.typepad.com

Kaytabug said...

Great post! The dog is scary, I can get that way too! So how did the tough love work out?

Unknown said...

Tough love is so hard sometimes - but necessary. The dog scares me too, here I thought you were all smiles. :)

Sayre said...

I'm so sorry, Jenny!!! I promise I won't bite you.

The TOUGH LOVE actually worked. We had one of the most pleasant, un-argumentative weeks ever with the toys gone. ZBoy did his homework completely and without complaint. I think he was scared that he wouldn't get his toys back at all. As it was, we re-introduced them slowly and he continued to be a diligent homework-doer.

Beckie said...

That dog is scary!

ChrisB said...

I'll remember never to get you pissed off!!

Anonymous said...

Awesome! I think we need more moms like you!

Lisa

Unknown said...

I agree with Lisa above. If more moms acted like moms and not friends we'd have better kids. And, we wouldn't have to worry about what the country will look like when they're running it!

Unknown said...

I agree with Lisa above. If more moms acted like moms and not friends we'd have better kids. And, we wouldn't have to worry about what the country will look like when they're running it!

Unknown said...

I agree with Lisa above. If more moms acted like moms and not friends we'd have better kids. And, we wouldn't have to worry about what the country will look like when they're running it!

Unknown said...

Sorry. It kept giving me an error message & wouldn't post...then BAM three at once. Mea culpa!

Anonymous said...

I've been close to this myself! I've threatened to remove all the toys, but never actually done it. Good for you!


Dreaming What Ifs...

karisma said...

HA! I love it! You sound more and more like me every day! Mind you when I do get angry like that, I generally roar and then laugh at myself.

Now whats really funny is I am reading a book about Indigo children at he moment and one lady who had a similar problem to yours suggested that rather than arguing with the child, she tells him it is for the good of the planet and that homework is an Earth custom. Apparently it worked for her.

So me being the smarty pants that I am, used it on Gameboy yesterday when he would not finish his English sheet. He looked at me as if I was from another planet and shook his head. Mind you he did finish his work (probably thought he would humour the crazy lady!)

Stepping Over the Junk said...

there is some tough love going on in my house too. I dont know if it is the holiday stuff or that it is dark so early or what. but I am going insane.

Molly said...

I teach school. I bet this method works. If it doesn't, you have helped by removing these distractions. Hopefully, millions of parents read your post and are following your guidance.

Dawn said...

The tough love pays off. I must say, my kids and even Sirdar fear the "Wrath of Dawn". It is amazing how removal of thing that are distracting or things that contribute to bad behaviour, can improve the character of a child. Way to go, and it is great your husband is behind you on this.

Peter said...

I don't think you'll get many arguments about your action except for that dog!!!!

Kerith Collins said...

scary dog...sit...stay...RUN AWAY!
kerith
http://momdumchronicles.blogspot.com

Kerith Collins said...

scary dog...sit...stay...RUN AWAY!
kerith
http://momdumchronicles.blogspot.com

Tiggerlane said...

Oh...I wish I could do this! But now, The Offspring is distracted by the computer - and if I pack it away? I can't blog....

But hey, I am a yeller, too!

Anonymous said...

He has been a pill since Christmas? Wow, a whole year of snits! Scary.
You look like you're wasting away, cousin. I am, too. I have rubber bands twisted around knobs of waistband to keep my pants up, since this pair has no belt loops, and I can't afford to shop, even at Goodwill.
-Daa