The girls had a rough weekend...last weekend, actually (I'm losing track of time). Anyhow, I took the kids to their cousin's baptism (congratulations, Andrew), and when it came time to go...weeping & wailing & gnashing of teeth...literally...VERY literally. Not just one of them, but ALL 4 of them! I don't blame Ammon--he just does what the "guys" do. But THOSE GIRLS!!! If we wouldn't have been at the church, I can't guarantee that their lives would have been spared. Kidding...kind of. As I was literally throwing kids into the car, I informed Justin's parents that this was why we don't leave the house.
Needless to say, upon our arrival home, they were sent straight to their room. I told them they could come out when it was clean. Around dinner time, they asked if they could come out for dinner...
poor kids: Ummmm, no.
mean mom: Then you can't come out.
poor kids: But we're staaaaaaaarving!
mean mom: If you were really staaaaaaarving, you'd hurry and clean your room, so you could come out and eat.
poor kids: But Mom, we only had toast for breakfast, and rolls & chips at the baptism.
mean mom: Man, I bet you wish you would have eaten more at the baptism, huh?
poor kids: Pleeeeeeeaaaaase, Mom!
mean mom: You can have bread & water.
poor kids: Bread & water!?!? (in extremely whiny voices)
mean mom: ...or nothing...what's your choice?
poor kids: Okay...bread & water.
(in extremely sad voices)
Abbie: Can I have milk?
nice mom: Fine...you can have milk.
Abbie: Can I have apple juice?
mean mom: Nope...milk or water.
Abbie: But I really want apple juice!
mean mom: Okay...water.
Abbie: Okay, okay...I'll take milk.
mean mom: Too late...water.
Abbie: Awwww, Mom.
mean mom: Okay...nothing.
Abbie: Okay, okay...I'll take water. (cry, cry, pout, pout)
mean mom: That's what I thought.
They went through about a loaf of bread & plenty of water...turns out they weren't actually staaaaaaarving.
When I went in to put them to bed, their room was a bigger mess than they began with. I asked them what they had been doing all day...3 blank stares. Abbie asked if they were going to be grounded the next day too. I informed them that they could decide how long they would be grounded. A smile started to spread across her face...until I explained that as soon as they decided to clean their room, they could come out. Cry, cry, pout, pout...lights out!
Well, to make what is turning into a long story, short-ish...Aunt Ruth & Uncle Dennis had mercy on them and helped them tidy up just in time for dinner.
My favorite part of this story came the next day, when Abbie brought a book of fairy tales to me. She pointed out a line in the story of Hansel & Gretel...
gave them nothing but bread and water."
Abbie: But she was their STEPMOTHER...and at the beginning of the story, they described her as a heartless woman who hated children!!!
mean mom: hmmmm...(trying not to laugh)
Abbie: (hands me the book, and walks away)
So...what do you think? Mother of the year?! Maybe you should keep your thoughts to yourselves...I'm feeling fragile. :) (And don't tell the kids...they pounce on weakness!)
good things...
1. kids that love me...even when I have to whip out "mean mom"
2. a husband that finds amusement in my trauma :)
3. the look of shock/pity/disbelief on my in-laws faces as we pulled out of the parking lot that day
11 comments:
I LOVED your story! You are human...and one of the best moms I know! I loved Abbie's contribution to the tale :) Hope today is a GOOD day for you!
You are an amazing mom! I had a similar incident the other day. I'll have to tell you about. Glad you survived. Hope you have more good days than bad days. Remember I love you and miss you. You truly are an amazing mom, lady, etc.
I feel that I pull out mean mom daily. I wish my kids would listen without mean mom after them. I think you are a fabulous mom and doing it on your own is even more impressive. can't wait for our girls' night tonight. You defintely deserve it.
You gave me the best laugh that I've had all day! I guess that we have to laugh at times like this or we cry, (or both--at the same time!). You are so real, and I love it! By the way, you may feel fragile, but you are the strongest woman I know! Love and miss you!
Remember, what doesn't kill us, is supposed to make us stronger. Still trying to figure out if this is true or not! Glad you and your children survived.
I'd already heard the story, but I still got a good laugh out of that "true-life adventure"! No one can say parenthood is boring. You're doing great, Sue, and the days of parenting alone are fast dwindling. Hang in there and know that you're in several prayers daily around here!
mean mom?
are you serious? you are mother of the year my sweet!
We must all have similar stories in out "mean" mommy days. I recall a young Autumn stomping away from me headed to her room to finish a cleaning job and saying, "You're just like a STEPMOM"! We have all been there and it's the girls that add the most drama to the plot. Hang in there sweet girl!
"...the look of shock/pity/disbelief on my in-laws faces as we pulled out of the parking lot that day..." Actually, we thought you had everything under control. The fact that the van was rocking to and fro and bouncing up and down with every cry, never occurred to us that there was mayhem within. Ouch! We would have jumped in but it was kind of scary. Just kidding! Sounds like mean mom handled things okay. We think you're the best.
Love you lots.
Love, Mom and Dad
That Abbie is a smart one!
Sue, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! I have often felt like the mean mom at our house has whipped herself out way too many times, but to have it pointed out like that mom in Hansel and Gretl is priceless! Amazing. I love that your kids are resourceful...they must have remembered reading that somewhere before. So funny. You know that they love you so much. Thanks for the honesty. :)
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