Bad Parenting...Learn from our examples.

My husband and I will always tell you how it really is around here.

We aren't the best parents in the world. We try our best, but sometimes, the chaos of this house takes over and we end up getting mixed in with all the crazy.

Here are two examples of how our parenting has taken a turn for the worse and how you can avoid falling in the same pit as us:

 

1.

Don't Give In.

They are strong.

You are weak.

You are exhausted.

They will NEVER tire.

They will manipulate you.

You are stupid.

 

My husband removed the kids from the home the other day, so I could get some cleaning done without having them underfoot and making a mess behind me.

Plus, I was cranky and some time alone was needed.

 

I was sweeping through every room, trying to get the entire first floor tidy. It took me about 2 hours.

Normally, I just do the main parts of the house and let them do their own bedrooms.

But I was on a roll, finished a little early and just took care of their rooms while they were gone.

 

What I didn't know, was that my husband was prepping the kids to come home to clean their own rooms.

When Evan arrived home, he started crying.

Why?

 

Because he "knew" that I was going to clean his room and didn't want to come home.

Apparently, "Mommy always cleans our room when we don't."

Shoot.

 

I suck at this.

 

So now, no more cleaning their rooms.

You think this would be easy...but it gets sooo messy, that I eventually can't take it anymore!

 

I need to let it go and let them learn how to do it alone.

 

 

2.

Don't Swear.

Ever.

Never.

You think this would be common sense.

But we're still human and always learning...

Here's why I suggest not swearing:

 

 

This is Jalon's fault.

I won't take the blame on this one.

I'm pretty good when it comes to no swearing.

He sucks at it.

 

I really hope that Declan doesn't say this at school.

That won't be fun to explain.

 

 

So, as you can see, we both have our own faults as parents.

We aren't shamed to admit it, even though we probably should be.

 

I did happen to find the video hilarious.

That's really why I recorded it.

Can't tell my kids that yet.

One day, they can find it hilarious too.



Holiday Hangover

I have a serious Holiday Hangover.

I don't mean the "I finished an entire bottle of tequila and can't remember the evening, but know that involved running around naked and woke up with a bed full of regret" type of hangover.

This is more like a "There are no more presents to open/buy, my belly has an extra roll around it from all the chocolate I consumed while playing countless games and watching tear-jerker romance Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel for hours on end" type of hangover.

I feel lost.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with myself right now. I end up just walking around in a fog for large amounts of time not being able to focus my attention on one specific area.

I have all my Christmas décor removed. The house is "fairly" clean. The laundry is done. I have nothing to watch on TV right now. What the heck am I supposed to be doing right now?

Blah. I just feel blah.

So, I'm going to focus on writing again. About darn time.

Hopefully I will be able to put more effort into it after the kids return to school on Monday.

I took a million pictures, but there are only a few worth showing. Most of them are for my own memories and you would find them extremely boring.

I found a few that pretty much summed up our Christmas, so I will do a little show and tell for you.

X-mas Eve.

My sister is showing you what happens after consuming too much at dinner.

I've had too many Christmas dinners lately.

That's exactly how I feel right now.

I liked this picture, just because of Declan and his little peek-a-boo toes.

He did receive new socks for Christmas.

Just in case you were worried.

Love their excitement.

See how excited he is for this gift?

She's thrilled to look exactly like Elsa!

Every little girls dream!

Except that it didn't fit her giant head...

Oops.

"Thank you Auntie Jess! I needed a giant bag of jelly beans just for me!

Seriously.

We need to chat.

Spoiled little girl.

But so happy to receive the gift she asked for.

 

These next group of pictures is from Christmas morning.

(And yes, I have the Yule Log on the TV, right above our working fireplace. But my fireplace doesn't play Christmas music softly in the background for me to enjoy.)

Do you want to know how many of these dolls are no longer dressed?

I don't know why, but our Barbies are naked now.

All of them.

So happy to have ANOTHER DAMN BARBIE.

Although, this one was purchased because it came with a Unicorn.

Santa didn't have enough magic to turn her into an actual Unicorn, which was on her list, so we had to work with what we had.

See that face?

Can I at least get a smile?

Inside that box is a Wii-U.

The one gift he's been asking us for the last 2 years!

This was a BIG GIFT.

I anticipated much more excitement...

should have filled it with rocks.

 

 

I love the holidays. I really do. But I also really love routine. After having a month of chaos and mayhem, I'm really feeling relieved that things are going to be getting back to normal. As normal as they can get around here.

 

I guess that means I actually have to get dressed...

 

There's always a downside.