Next week is winter break. Patrick asks if he can invite 5 friends for a sleepover. I was ok with 3 max. My husband was not.
Why?
Well, as he said, it feels like almost every weekend we have friends sleep over. We parents no longer feel we get the break we deserve. What with all the worries of what to feed these kids, how to make them behave within normal limits, how to ensure they don't end up with lacerations or amputations, and how to keep OUR HOUSE intact, we also want our kids to be responsible enough to maintain the house at a presentable state. Anytime. All the time.
They were given chores to do. But they do them sporadically. Only when we do the same thing we did at suppertime tonight.
They were given a checklist. Which worked only 2-3 days and the list became an invisible piece of paper posted on the fridge door.
They were offered weekly allowance. Not my idea, but my husband's. He was hoping they would be more motivated to do their chores. (I felt it was like paying them for contributing to the family work, which, in my opinion, should not be the case. After all, we buy their food and clothes, I cook for them, we provide them with a roof over their heads. It is but reasonable for them to give something in return. Oh, and they have their own computers (thanks to my husband for that!).
It used to be that winter was their favorite season because they "love snowboarding." This year, their snowboards remained unused, and my older son had the lame excuse of having the orientation such that his left foot is in front, or that there are not enough kids to play with and actually have fun.
I am so sick and tired of being a parent...at least, that's how I feel tonight.
So God help us!
