8.07.2008

Random musings

(How many times has that been used in the blogging world as a title? It's so worn out, and yet- here it shows up again.)

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Today, I truly felt like "Simon Says" (the well known playground game to torture children everywhere) was originally invented to teach kids to LISTEN.

It's been rough 'round these parts lately, getting Emerson & Atticus to listen to what I'm telling them and then to obey.

(Before I continue, yes, I totally recognize the irony in the same exact patterns that show up in my relationship with God.)

Anyways, I keep telling them and telling them and then end up yelling at them ridiculous things over and over. I know I'm sick and tired of hearing, "Pick up the blocks. Pick up the blocks. Pick up the blocks. PICK UP THE BLOCKS."

Surely they must be tired of hearing it.

Oh yeah, they are. Em told me today, "Moooooom! Stop talking to me! I AM!!" (as she scoots along the floor.)

It's been trying, to say the least. I really do feel at my wit's end, a lot of times.

I've been reflecting on how things seemed so *together* for me when I was teaching preschoolers at a prep school. I had 3 year olds, and my little class ran really well. We had routines, structure, clear consequences for actions, and most days I really loved what I did.

How is it that parenting is so drastically different?

I have started implementing a little role-play with Em to practice obeying. Whenever I can tell I'm starting to lose it ("it" being my complete grip on sanity), I tell Em "Let's practice obeying."

Then we proceed to go through a series of instructions where she "practices obeying." I don't know why in the heck it seems to work that way, and not when I'm saying, "Hey, pick up the freaking blocks," but somehow it does.

Since my kids are the silliest in the world, our practice session today quickly unraveled to a full-blown game of Simon Says (except I was just saying "Mommy says"). We did jumping, flapping our wings, turning around, etc. etc.

Em wanted me to tell them to be horses, so they got down on their hands and knees and were the most agressive horses I've ever seen, screaming "NEEEEEEEIGH! NEIGH!"

Same with Lambs, and Dinosaurs.

At that point, they were so wound up that, as I'm trying to think of another command, I'm saying "Okay, this time you be....." (and I'm dragging out the word "be"), Emerson starts running around the room, going, "Be! Be! Be! BE!"

Yes, such a productive and instructive activity.

And that, my friends, is a peek into my life today. I commend you if you actually read through all of that. Tune in later today or tomorrow for some fun stuff from the August Scripts kit.

10 comments:

  1. Enjoy this time (easy for me to say as mine are older)....it soon goes to:

    PICK UP YOUR CLOTHES..
    CAN YOU PUT THEM IN THE HAMPER.
    PUT ON UNDERWEAR(DIRECTED AT AJ)
    CAN YOU WIPE OFF THE COUNTER?
    WHO LEFT FOOD ON THE TABLE THAT IS NOW COVERED IN ANTS...
    YOU CAN'T WEAR THE SHIRT WHERE YOUR BRA SHOWS THROUGH(CAN YOU GUESS? LOL)

    Hang in there!
    Love ya!

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  2. WOW - I'm having the very same issues with Cole - a lot lately. He can ignore me like I'm not even in the room with him!! Drives me crazy. But if I ignore him - OH NO - he doesn't let me get away with that AT ALL. For him, it may have more to do with side effects of radiation - he can only really do one thing at a time. crazy!! I can't get past it - I mean how many times should I really have to say put on your socks and shoes? Apparently the magic number is five. So now i'm thinking do I just say it five times each morning? lol

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  3. Are you sure you don't have secret spy cams looking in at my house?? YOu just described it perfectly! Right there with ya sister! All I can say is hang in there. Adrienne's right. One day this'll all be over (for better or for worse).

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  4. You're my hero!! I don't see how you do what you do every day!!!

    Could you maybe use Simon Says (or Mommy Says) when cleaning up? Turn it into a game? I know it takes FOREVER that way but at least there's no frustration. =)

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  5. All I can say is ((((HUGS))))
    I remember it well!
    Just wait till she is 15.5! :O

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  6. I read through the whole thing. I feel your pain...really I do.

    Jackson has just learned the word no, and he knows that when I say he doing something he's no supposed to...so now when I say it he turns around and smiles at me and continues to do what ever it was as if to say "haha mommy what do you know?"

    *sighs* the days around here are long and test my sanity LOL

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  7. I like your idea for practicing obeying. Will have to try.

    I cannot imagine having three toddlers, btw. You have a hard job, friend.

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  8. Lets write a book about Momisms. They ARE the greatest isms of all.
    And I agree with Kim, you do have a hard job, but I think you do AWESOME at it. I'm sure it is normal to have bad days. It is isn't it? Really , PLEASE, it is, right? ;)
    Your awesome Virge!

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  9. {shaking head} it must be in the air,....i am going through this with my kids at the moment....
    after the thrid time i ask i just go in there and pick it up and throw it away...mason he get the picture..melana..she just don't care!! grrrrrrr!!!!

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  10. Those are two great ideas Virge! (ie., Simon Says and "practicing obeying"). I might try using them on the kids at church too! It makes sense, because kids aren't "programmed" to obey,they are programmed not to obey!
    I have done the same thing with you guys (trying various games like singing "clean up clean up, everybody clean up!") and I got worn out because you kids expected cleaning up to be fun everytime! (and we all know it's not always fun) M>O>M

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I'm so glad you decided to leave me a comment today! Thanks for taking the time to stop by my little corner of the world. :)

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