EVERY single day it seems I repeat the same requests, instructions etc. It's as if every day is the kids first day on the planet, lol. Did you finish your homework, did you take a shower, did you pick up your dirty clothes ?!?! When I ask these questions and more every day the response is "oh yeah" or "oh yeah I forgot". The routine is well established in the house but for some reason their little minds don't retain the little things. For example, my son has got in the car with ONE shoe on, literally ONE SHOE, really? I asked him why and he said he could only find one. Mind you he has several other pairs.
And before any of you suggest a chore board or little notes placed in strategic places, we've tried it all. I really do laugh, because it really is funny and it's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of life.
So this really isnt a question, just a rant or vent. Thanks
Whew.... I'm not alone, yall made me laugh the whole time I was reading your answers. Thanks
I remember when my kids were young and their brains weren't fully formed. Now it's me! I walk into a room and wonder why I am there... I hope I don't leave the house with just one shoe!
'Every day is the kids' first day on the planet!' BAHAWAHA! That's genius!
Are you fluent in teenager? If so, you'll be able to interpret this.
Me: Dan, where's that paperwork for your UHS class?
Dan: Well, um, zzphuumph, uh, I dunnozzpitscicle
Me: What? Isn't it due tomorrow?
Dan: I just blahnottngzzzzdroolblecky....sniff, shrug, meh
Me: WHAT?!
Dan: GOD! It's in my BACKPACK, I'll go get it, ALRIGHT?! Jeesh!
:)
try adding a 76 year old with dementia into the mix and you've got my groundhog day nightmare!
J.--I agree100%! There is NO better way to describe life with kids than to make an analogy to the Groundhog Day movie!
Not sure how old your kids are but mine is 8.5 and we're still in...Groundhog Day!
I feel your pain.
I swear my parents never had to do that. I AM ONLY KIDDING ON THAT ONE. :) My dad is happy to remind me.
I am w/Wendi: I, too, have an elderly parent I take care of to add into the
mix. :)
Stressed out, stretched too thin but happy we are still kickin'. :)
Sometimes we can remind kids of things TOO much which hinders them thinking for themselves (in their little minds they know mom or dad will tell them eventually).... Other than that it is quite the repetitious job - parenting.
I drive a school bus. Every single day I have to tell my high school students to sit down while the bus is moving and get their feet out of the aisle. Every freaking single day! On the way to school and on the way home. I swear they do it just to test me.
I hear ya, J.! It's the same thing in our house. I told my daughter I'm going to record myself and my shower instructions on a loop so that they play over and over when she's in the shower: "Make sure you put your forehead under the water. You're not getting all the soap out! Have you washed your face yet? Hurry up, you're wasting water!"
The one shoe would have made my head explode but it sure is funny!
Every.single.day I have to yell at my twins to put on their school clothes after they eat breakfast. They literally go upstairs and start playing with toys. School has been in session for months!!! In the morning I'm busy making their lunch and I have to yell up to them every few minutes. I have gone upstairs to find them JUST getting out of their pjs even though they have been "putting on clothes" for 20 minutes. I have questioned the amount of brain cells they have many many times!
I haven't read the other responses, but you may try asking questions that don't involve a yes/no response. Makes them THINK about what they're saying/doing!!!!
One day my son got in the car in his pajamas and he had to go to school like that. He NEVER did it again......
I hate repeating myself but it's a sad fact that repetition is the key to learning. (It's also the key to a successful sales pitch!) Repetition cuts grooves of memory into the soft tissue of our grey matter like wagon ruts on a well traveled dirt path. If you repeat the journey over and over, the path becomes well worn and easier to traverse as time passes. The less the road is traveled the more overgrown it becomes, like a fuzzy memory.
Practice makes perfect etc all.
I can still hear my dad yelling at my sster and me to turn off the curling iron. I can't even look at a curlingiron without hearing "We cannot pay for this thing to be left on all day. Plus it will burn the house down." "TURN OFF THE CURLING IRON!!!"
Come on dad it's 1982, I have to curl it constantly and use half a can of Aquanet to boot!!
