Sock Puppets and a Crazy little thing called Love.

Have you ever had one of those days where it feels like you are talking to a sock? As a parent I constantly feel like that, and not one of those socks that has eyes sewn to its face, and a mouth drawn on.... no, not a sock puppet but just a plain jane sock... the kind my husband constantly leaves laying on the floor as opposed to putting it in the laundry hamper... (talking to him is like talking to a very large sock...)The only time either one of them actually listens to me is when I am talking about food, or cars... oh the joys of having a family of only boys.

For me and my family consistency is key. Husband/Daddy and I will always be a united front. We will always back each other up and in front of Little Man we will never argue about what we believe is the best parenting move, if one of us does something the other disagrees with we talk about it when little man is not around.


My Family Rules and a note to Children From their Mother:

1. When I say do something do it... I will ask you once, if you don't do it the first time I will ask you again with a warning of time out etc. If you don't do it that time its straight to time out... do not pass go, do not collect 200.00. And you bet your butt then when you have served your 2 minuets for time out, the thing I asked you to do is STILL sitting there waiting for you to do it... and you WILL do it.

2. Bed time is Bed time. No questions, no delaying.... We have a specific routine that is followed every night before bed and between the hours of 8pm and 7am you are not to leave your room unless your rooms on fire. Simple.

3. I am not your short order cook. You don't enjoy what I made you for dinner? Too bad! No I will NOT make you a peanut butter sandwich, no I will NOT beg you to eat... you sit at the table until what I cooked is finished... if you're still there at bedtime? You go straight to bed..and you get it for breakfast the next day.... enjoy.

4. I am not your friend, I am your Mother. You will make plenty of friends along the way in life... but you will only have one Mother, one person that gave birth to you.. one person that "Pushed a watermelon through a garden hose" so that you can have life... and that's what you need me to be... a Mother... Not your Pal.

5. Don't whine... It's an awful noise and it gets you NOTHING.

6. Use your Manners. There is nothing more disgusting to me than when a child demands things. You can and WILL be raised better than that. Ask nicely, and don't expect to get ANYTHING unless you do.

7. Know I love you. I love you more than anything in the world. You are my reason for living and nothing will ever change that.

Well, that concludes my lesson for the day! Ha! Anyways, I am sure there are other things that I could put on that list but those are the most important ones to me....

I believe that if those rules are all enforced a level of "respect" will then result from them and will be paid to all adults... I have to set the example.. thats what parenting is about..