A combo post! Almost like being in a Chinese restaurant, isn't it?
So, about responsibilities... I had a loooooooooooooooooooooooong discussion with Nicole on Saturday night about responsibilities. She thinks I micro-manage her too much and don't give her an opportunity to show me how responsible she truly is.
That went on to what we expect from her as a member of our family and a resident in our house. We are VERY easy on the kid. Keep your room neat. I don't want to walk in your room and see dirty clothes on the floor when the hamper is THREE FEET away.
Make your bed.
I don't want to see shoes all over the house.
Keep the bathroom neat. Don't take your clothes off and leave them there for God and everyone to see.
Do your laundry and put it away.
And CALL HOME at the appointed times. Quit saying, "Sorry, I forgot."
After this, she says I don't give her enough time to do these things before I tell her to do them again. My point: Do them and there won't be any discussion about it.
I had to act like my child rides the little bus: These things must be done FIRST and DAILY (except the laundry, of course). Not pick up your clothes and shoes once a week, or at 11pm.
The big point: You want extra privileges? Privileges require responsibility. If you can't show us responsibility right in front of our faces, how are we to believe you are being responsible the rest of the time? Sheesh!
Give me two toddlers for one teen - please!
Face It? I snagged my own name on Facebook... I felt like I won the lottery. Of course, Lynda isn't as popular as it was 30/40 years ago. I imagine if my name was Brittany or Courtney it wouldn't be so easy.
There you go... almost as good as sausage on a stick!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Responsibilities and Face It
Posted by Lynda at 8:56 AM
Labels: responsibility, teens
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7 comments:
It's amazing how a kid can make an argument that they aren't given the room to show they're responsible when they are using the room they've got to be responsible. How did I think this way when I was a teenager? Do they have their own sort of logic?
I better get my dirty clothes off the floor before I lose any priveleges...
;)
I've got one of those. I came home from work the other day, and the dishwasher was empty, the dishes put away. I asked The Wild One what was up. "Aren't they supposed to be put away?" she queried. "Yes, but you hardly ever empty the dishwasher when you're supposed to." I knew she wanted something. I just KNEW it! *sigh*
I'm afraid that you will be saying that until she iss ready to leave the house. (And then again when she comes to visit) Although she will have a better understanding of where you are coming from when she has to take care of ALL her own stuff.
Good luck, Breathe.
I recorded the speech a long time ago and still play it for my 19 and 24 year old.
Goodness, it sounds like our home. Are you sure you are not listening in and using what you hear as blog fodder..??
Deep breaths...relax...
A margarita or two may help ;-)
Mine is 24 and on her own with a kid and she still argues about everything. She thinks she is grown, but then comes and asks me for financial help and when I visit I am in charge of cooking, cleaning, and caring for the baby while she sleeps in. Where is the responsibility in that, mind you? I think that is the way it is with all kids, but mostly girls, they depend on their mothers, i.e., they suck everything they can out of them.
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