Cleaning and Cleaning and Cleaning

Today I had to deal with a child sobbing because of a toilet. Strange right?! Let me expound on how a toilet can cause red face alligator tears. Today I had the kids help clean up the house that literally looked like a tornado hit it. Normally I only make them clean their rooms and the playroom, but since they had taken it upon themselves to drag their stuff (mess) around the entire house, I had them help with all the rooms.

So they cleaned spills and marks off the floor, vacuumed the rug, cleaned their rooms, the playroom and then I essentially ordered them around to clean other things.

So the big moment: I tell Benjamin to go get a wipe and clean up the toilet - Grace obviously thinks that sounds like something she would like to do, so she rushes and yells, "I'll do it!" Ben runs after her and says "No Mom said me!" At this point they are literally arguing over who is going to wipe down the toilet. I go back to settle the argument and Ben is on his bed bawling, red faced with huge tears. So to settle the argument and quell the tears, I promise Grace she can vacuum and tell Ben he can do the toilet. This makes everyone happy (including me) and the tears cease. All is right with the world again, Ben gets to clean the toilet and Grace gets to vacuum - isn't life grand.

When we are done, Grace informs me that she and Ben did all my job and I hardly did anything (yeah right). Now she has become the mess nazi getting onto anyone that leaves a mess anywhere in the house. Maybe I will make them help with the house everytime, the house has been clean for 2 full hours and the kids are "exhausted of cleaning" and watching t.v. Life is good and my house is clean. What more could I ask for? Uhhh . . . well maybe my husband home, a million dollars, the ability to transport myself like on Star Trek or a private plane, and a bikini body again? That's not too much right? I guess I will settle for a clean house and exhausted children.

Cleaning Out

So I am cleaning out the toy room to make room for the new Christmas toys that are going to be coming from Santa and grandparents. My question is how in the world do you decide what to get rid of? I mean my kids seem to play with everything that is not a toy. For example, today I have confiscated (from Ben) a can of hairspray, dishwasher packets, Sissy's dinner plate (which he was using as a hat), makeup, pens, and I am sure other stuff I just can't remember. From Grace I have gotten index cards (all scribbled on and wadded up), mommy's business cards, and makeup. Granted they do play with alot of their toys, I mean they aren't a total waste, but sometimes I wonder? I swear they get the greatest joy out of the weirdest things.

Rosie

So we have a new addition to our family, Rosie. Who might you ask is Rosie, a dog, cat maybe? No, Rosie is Grace's "imanginary daughter." Not imaginary friend or pet, her daughter.

I was watching the kids play outside the other day and Grace was pushing the swing (with no one on it)and talking to "Rosie." When I asked her who Rosie was, she said, she's my daughter. Granted Rosie is not a traditional imaginary friend, she doesn't go with us all the time and only seems to pop up on occasion, but what I notice when Rosie is around is that Grace tends to sound alot like me. It can be very weird to hear your words come out of your daughter's mouth. Although most of it was very sweet and gentle, I did notice a couple of harsh tones and words that I recognized as something I had said to Grace before. It reminded me (again) that my kids are sponges and soak up every word I say, every smile, every bad attitude, every bit of playfulness, and every harsh tone I use.

I in no way have the expectation that I have the ability to raise my kids to be perfect angels all while perfectly dressed and never raising my voice, because I can use the "voice of reason" instead (you cannot reason with a 2 year old). I gave up on that pipe dream a while ago, but I think I do need to be more careful that I don't let my temper get the best of me on a regular basis. There is nothing more special than being a mom, and I love my kids with all my heart and I want to make sure that they know that without a shadow of a doubt.

I want there to be more I love you's than time-outs, more hugs and kisses than angry words, more laughing than crying, and more playfulness than arguments. I just have to keep reminding myself because there is nothing more devious than the monotony of everyday to steal those thoughts from me. So I guess my fight is against the everyday and finding the joy in making my 1,000 ham and cheese sandwich, saying go back to bed for the millionth time with the same calm as I did the first time, or laughing and playing while I clean up the playroom that I just cleaned 10 minutes ago (It's amazing what kids can do in 10 minutes).

So, Fight Against the Monotony!!!! This week coming up I am going to find a new way to look at the laundry or the dishes! It's all about the perspective.

Quote

Here's a quote from Phyllis Diller for all you mom's who have a messy house like me!

" Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing."

That is exactly how I feel. It never ends and seems to be the most fruitless activity I do sometimes.