My kids and notes: Year 9.10
February 19, 2025
Life with JB
Well this was unexpected. After weeks of being ticked off every single time I looked at JB’s room with stuff everywhere, I finally snagged a block of time to dedicate to hands-on guidance of what I mean by organize and clean. It was not pretty. I was grumpy with deep bone pain, it was a hideous mess, but somehow this one session worked out. I had given them specific instructions to sort things into three piles before I came in so that helped.
It still took us two hours to go through and sort, organize, discard recycling candidates. We had to do this over and over. Someday they will start to understand what “everything has to have a home” means. It does NOT mean “shove it in the first available container with a lid but if none are available and you can jam it in between containers and nothing falls down you have cleaned“. We made it through four containers, and are not even halfway through. I was snappish but didn’t lose my temper. They were sluggish but didn’t cop an attitude. Felt like a minor miracle all around. We still have several more rounds to go because if I do it myself it’ll be back to this normal in a matter of days and I’ll be mad. At least if I make them go through every step with me, there’s a chance that some of it might stick.
Update: It does not appear that any habit is sticking but we have done four sessions. Half the room is still a disaster zone but half the room shows progress. That’s not nothing.
A thing that apparently more parents than just us are experiencing (caveat our kids don’t have skin sensitivity, eczema, or any health issues that would mean they SHOULD skip bathing): they keep asking to skip showers. No! We don’t just randomly skip hygiene because you just don’t feel like it tonight or pretty much every other night. Friends have vented about this, too. I can smell you, you must bathe 🤯
Life with Smol Acrobat
Smol Acrobat turned four and suddenly decided they now (sometimes) do things they didn’t do before. Getting dressed quickly instead of dragging their feet for half an hour, for example. They have always been the most dramatic complainer about their vaccines, hobbling for DAYS, and fending off suggestions that we remove the bandaid like a rabid cornered crittter. This year? After the second day of hobbling, I said I’d help take off the bandaid after their shower and they just did it themselves?? What is going ON?
On the other hand, they are still being a total butt wanting us to solve their problems when they could easily solve them.
“I’m HOT!!” when wearing a sweater and a jacket.
Ok, what can you do to solve this problem?
“Ngh!! I’m cold!!”
Ok, your sweater is on the hook.
“NGH!!! NO!”
Precious Moments
Me: How was your day?
PiC: It was ok, the person I needed to answer things is out.
SmolAc: Mom, why did you not call me?
Me: For what?
SmolAc: For having a great day!
****
SmolAc: Mom, I don’t have any teeth!
Me: Oh dear, what happened to them?
SmolAc: I weft them in the car.
****
SmolAc: can I have bugs on a wog?
Me: *squints*
SmolAc: you know, raisins!
****
SmolAc walking in the door like it’d been a really long day: Mom can we make a cake?
Uhhh not today, sorry.
Oh can we make raspberries?
No, we have to grow or buy those, we can’t make them.
*Exasperated* what CAN we make? I want to make something dat is good!
You and me both, kiddo.
****
I put on my socks this morning when JB and PiC were leaving and Smol Acrobat panicked: WHY ARE YOU WEAVING ME??
They’re now as trained as the dogs were to think I leave when I put pants and/or socks on. 😄
****
Smol Acrobat: mom, ten minutes ago I threw up.
…
…
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WHERE???
ahahah those are gold. SA is just too funny!
I think if I were around for the temperature complaints, I’d be tempted to stop fixing and just start saying “that sounds uncomfortable” or something equally neutral. But hey it’s easy to script as a non-parent!
Good luck with the ongoing project that is JB’s stuff. That does sound like a better way to help them really see what you expect.
Oh, you’re not wrong, I wasn’t fixing. You have easy solutions available and working arms, have at it. If you don’t want to, fine, that’s your call. I don’t bother fussing over clothes in general without a really good reason. My motto is: let em get cold. They’ll put on a sweater or a jacket when they do. *My kids do not tough it out when they feel cold. For other kids, this would not be good strategy.
I can only hope this strategy pans out with JB’s room 😬