AWOL Mom: Day 3
We all slept in this morning and since we didn’t have a car, I decided to do a little baking. I made blueberry cobbler, granola bars and peanut butter balls. Not too difficult, but there were a lot of dishes. The boys didn’t complain about doing them and my oldest even said, “Yes, mom” after I asked him to do something and actually did it right away. He’s notorious for getting side tracked.
The boys worked out a plan: my 11 year old (Chris, not his real name)will do the cooking and preparing of the food, and my 9 year old, Joey, will do the clean up. A friend called for Chris to play, but he didn’t argue about having to do his chores first. He just humphed a little and asked what else he needed to do. But he did it all.
Then it was time for lunch and I supervised and guided Chris through making mac and cheese. Boy, is this a week of convenience food! He rose to the occasion, and I was so proud of him for not complaining. He got the dishes and served his siblings, and then Joey cleaned up. Then Chris was off to a friend’s house.
Joey wanted to do crafts so I helped him through his chores. The kitchen looks decent, though there’s still piles of crafts from Gracie, 4, on the table. The livingroom got picked up when I asked the first time.
Who are these kids? Are they obeying without arguing because they think this week of chores will end? Are they comprehending that we all need to work together to make this family run smoothly?
Timmy, 6, and Gracie,4, played nicely in the back yard in the sprinklers while Joey did a craft. Chris was 15 minutes late coming home because he was trying to call me and he was walking with his friend on crutches. It took them ten minutes to get to our house, which would have taken 3 minutes if his friend wasn’t on crutches.
I kind of wigged out after Chris’ friend left because the ten year old said, “Boy, all your rooms are messy.” He was referring to the kids bedrooms where the laundry was dumped for them to sort and the dress up box was scattered on the floor. Gracie’s room is always littered with toys no matter how much we pick up. And downstairs was a disaster as well.
So after the friend left I went on a cleaning drill sergeant rampage. I ordered Joey to sort and fold his clothes. He has a hard time with large tasks so I had to break it down for him and give him some breaks. I made Timmy, 6, put the dirty laundry in the basket and pick up the dress up clothes he and Gracie got out.
Things settled down and then it was time for dinner. Joey was going to a friend’s house to sleep over, but I wanted the crafts off the table first. He got to work while Chris got some frozen chicken patties out of the freezer. He microwaved the chicken and opened a can of corn. He then called his dad to find out when he would be home with the rolls. Chris and Joey set the table without complaining and the kids sat down to eat when hubby got home. But hubby went upstairs to change clothes and was gone for 5 or more minutes. The kids were chomping at the bit, but Chris insisted we all wait for dad and eat as a family. Gracie couldn’t wait and started nibbling her sandwich. Chris got upset and moaned how tired he was doing all the work. I noted how he sounded like me and he laughed and said, “But you’re the mom you’re supposed to do all this.” Only about 15 years will change his mind, when he has kids of his own!
When hubby came down, we insisted on Chris taking the first bite, and Chris joked about how no one complimented him on the dinner. He said, “Mom, that’s what you always say.” But I had to wonder if he really felt unappreciated deep down inside because no one really praised his efforts.
Later after church, we had some problems. My usually compliant Joey, 6, repeatedly ignored my requests for him to go upstairs and get ready for bed. He played with his toys instead and by the 5th time I lost it and yelled and said he couldn’t have a sleep over in his brother’s room. I know I should have guided him upstairs, taken away the toys, etc. but Gracie was giving me trouble and hubby had disappeared, and I was tired. All excuses, but I felt bad for yelling because he’s my most sensitive and things were going well today.
Timmy,6, got really angry and ran upstairs and yelled those words every mom hates to hear. “I hate you.” I tried to reconcile with him, but it took hubby’s intervention. At first he only wanted to apologize so he’d be allowed to sleep in his brother’s room, but I told him that wasn’t an option. Hubby managed to get to Timmy’s little heart and he apologized and I gave him grace and said, “Chris can sleep in your room.” And all ended well with day 3 of AWOL Mom.
