I stood there in the bathroom tonight, hairdryer in one hand and Wyatt's underwear in the other. I looked in the mirror, 'who the heck am I? why in the world have I decided that blow drying Wyatt's underwear dry from the tiny bit of pee he had on them make more sense than forcing him to just put them back on?'
I use to be the strong one, the one who could let them cry it out, didn't give them a choice of what to eat for breakfast, didn't take 'no' without a timeout, and here I am blow drying his underwear so he would put them back on and I wouldn't have to do another load of laundry full of McQueen underwear.
I must be getting tired.
And old.
I find his socks on top of the vents left to dry after stepping on a wet spot on the floor of the entry way. I find his underwear near the toilet after going to the bathroom (and it's not that he misses, he just gets that little 'advanced warning pee' that he needs to go and that makes him freak out). He pulls off his shirt if he spills milk on it, his pants if water happens to drip on it.
His being half-naked can only be cute for so long, right?
And what do I do? I just pick them up and throw them in the laundry hamper.
Our lucky third child is going to have the run of the house.
I'm screwed.
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30 comments:
I would love to insert some seriously positive remark here, but after parenting 5 kids, I think you're pretty much right. Parenting is for the young and the older I get the softer I get. I just don't have the piss and vinegar in me any more. Stand your ground (as much as you can) and be strong!
We went through that. Tonight my 6 year old son dropped his brownie on the carpet and he started crying hysterically..and people wonder why I call him Brattitude boy.
I hear ya! I am buckling more and more with each kid. Reece is bound to be spoiled.
you are totally screwed - especially if it's a girl :) you will be putty in her hands!
My six year-old is the same way. He changes his clothes 8 times a day b/c of various spills, etc., and mostly just throws them on the floor. Tonite I demonstrated spectacular parenting skills and THREW the shirt and jacket he'd left on the couch at him.
Yes. I'm old.
I wonder if it gets easier as they get older and you can actually take away stuff that matters when they don't listen...
Whatever makes you ok with you and your kids at the end of the day, girlfriend. We all do what works!
Half naked is better than all the way right? I kinda wish my kids were only half naked. My 5 year old and 3 year old strip down to panties and underwear when they get in the house. The baby would if he was coordinated enough to do it yet. My oldest has just been broken of it. Kind of. He strips down to boxers and a t-shirt. Drives me nuts. Dad does it. Again, drives me nuts.
My girls will tell you what they hear the most around the house after Would you stop ignoring me and you have just lost your electronics is LITTLE GIRLS WEAR CLOTHES. Said just like that through gritted teeth. LOL
I could look at this positively. With no clothes on there is nothing to spill on giving me less laundry to do? Except they drop everything where they take it off.
Why do we put up with this? LOL I just wrote a whole blog post in your comments I think.
My children have had the nerve to say, "but you're supposed to do it!". They are only 4 and 6 right now, but some bud-nipping is going to be happening in this house. You can bet your life on that misters!
Unfortunately, when I am tired, I cannot be bothered to nag and repeat myself a million times to get them to do it themselves and I just pick the silly thing up. I know I am not doing myself any favours, but that little bit of peace and quiet is sometimes worth it.
Thanks for dropping at Tropical Mum today.
Shelly at Tropical Mum
Dude. I change Avery's clothes every time she gets something on them. I don't want to hold her if her clothes have crud on them because then it'll get on MY clothes. If your third is a girl you don't have to worry so much about the dirt. Just kidding. Gender doesn't make a difference. Kids are just NASTY.
Delurking to say I am also one of the screwed. The first two are obedient and listen. The third just isn't. It's like Princess is in her genetic code. And it's not just me- she has older brother and sister both doing her bidding. I worry about four. So worried.
And since I went ahead and delurked, I want to tell you that you were my inspiration for a simple birthday party for a six year old last month. I made flipping PB & J. Thank you for freeing me from birthday party chaos.
I often have two half naked kids running around at the end of the day. Oh well. They are easier to wipe down that way.
Um, and yeah. I think you are screwed. :-)
It's just what happens.. I was the 5th of 6.. and yeah things were definitely easier for me. But look how I turned out ;)
Yup, sorry to say it, but that's it. Just...yup.
Haha....the youngest children usually get all the "perks" their older siblings had to forgo, such as blow dried underwear! :)
I can't stop the twins from walking in the rain with just socks on.
I can't stop little man from the pre-pee as I call it.
I can't stop dear hubby from leaving sweaty shirts on the back of the chair.
I can stop having kids. :)
It's so true that with each child, the battles are that much less worth fighting! Just go with the flow!
I sure wish I could say that it gets better as they get older. But then I might slip up and post a photo of Corey's laundry. Argh!
its not weakness, its wisdom. don't sweat the small stuff. choose your battles and all that good stuff :-) being nice and a little indulgent isn't a crime.
Ive heard so many moms say the same thing. My second is only 18 months old...so I can't say from experience... though she does kinda run our house (as she walks around with her cheerio cup-- leaving a trail behind her as I type... this is what we call BREAKFAST lol)
Ah, don't we all do that? The only thing you described that I don't do is blow-dry underwear. I just toss them aside. He can wear a clean pair if they are handy, or he can go pantless if I'm too tired to walk to his dresser. That's not letting the kids dictate their lives. It's parental survival.
Oh, you so aren't. Iz went through the same thing...I just wasn't home during the day for her to have me blow dry her undies.
That's a funny post--well, funny to me, anyway. I relate. I have one little one who can generate more laundry in a day than I can in a week...and, I swear, she hides socks because she does not like to wear them. I have spent the equivalent of her college fund on socks.
I can officially say that I am your screwed bloggy friend. I think I am a little too soft on Isabella. And Madelyn?
I pray she doesn't realize what a softy I really am...
xo
They sure do break you!
My kids break me a lot towards the end of the day when I'm exhausted and have no patience left. But in the mornings, I mostly have the upper hand. Funny how it works. By the end of the day, I'm worn thin, they know it, and I'll give in to almost anything. Ugh!
By kid three, you don't even notice that the older two went though the whole day without ever putting clothes on and are still covered with food at bedtime.
My daughter is usually half naked in the house. We're trying to potty train and it's just easier like that.
I am so tired of cleaning underwear!
Oh wow! I was at the doctor yesterday explaining how Owen forgets how to put his underpants on at home (not that I have created a monster). I hate warning pee (like every time I sneeze). You are a great mom, but I laugh with you at the hair dryer image. :-)
Whatever works is what I say! Sometimes it's just the easy way to avoid some sort of mega tantrum and that's always a good thing!
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