The Bean Blog

Turning in to our parents

Nov 19, 2009 A day in our life

This week has really kicked my butt. I suck at change. I thrive on routine. And this week has been anything but. I’ll figure it all out and get in to this new routine. It will just take me a couple of days. Or, um, weeks to get used to it. In the meantime I’m just going to be a little bit cranky. Ok, a lot. [And a tad bit whiny. Feel free to send me your cheese.]

This morning I went in to Keaton’s room to tell him it was time to leave for school. And when I opened the door I saw…rice. On the floor. In his carpet. He ate in his room last night. Spilled rice on the floor. And didn’t even bother to clean it up.

I’d be ticked off on a normal day. But on a cranky day? On a cranky day I was fuming.

We got in to a heated discussion [if heated means yelling]. I said “clean it up.” He said, “I didn’t realize I’d spilled.” I said, “it’s going to attract bugs.” And he said, “It’s only rice. I’ll get to it.” And it went back and forth like that until I said it. The one thing we all say we’ll never say to our kid when we grow up. We won’t be like our parents. We’re going to be different. Or so we say. Until our teenager spills rice on the carpet. And lets it sit there. Overnight. On a cranky day. That’s when you stop being different and you just say it.

This is MY house and as long as you live in MY house you will follow MY rules.

I wanted to slam my forehead against the wall right then and there. I couldn’t believe I’d said it. I tried to stop myself. I tried to take it back. But there it was. Lingering in the air. The horrible clique phrase that parents say. The ridiculous statement that I swore I’d never say to my kids. And yet I did.

This afternoon I picked all the kids up from the school bus and headed towards the post office. We hadn’t even left the parking lot yet when Spencer hit/pinched/poked/something’ed Caleb’s neck. Caleb started crying. Spencer immediately said, “I didn’t even do anything” which, of course, means he did do exactly something. And I hollered back for him to keep his hands to himself.

Not even five minutes later Skyler was crying. I looked back and she was holding her neck too with tears rolling down her face. [Apparently Spencer has some rubbery snake that he was snapping them with.] I lost it. And I said the second thing we all say we’ll never say to our kids when we grow up. Until we’re actually in the car with our tween who can’t keep his hands to himself for one quick 10 minute ride to the ever loving post office. Until your behind the wheel of a car with a kid who’s snapping rubber snakes at his siblings. That’s when you start being just like your parents and say it.

So help me God. I’m about to pull this car over right now and beat your butt right here on the side of the road. Is that what you want?

I wanted to slam my forehead on to the steering wheel. I couldn’t believe I’d said it. And after I’d already pulled out the old fashioned mom card earlier this morning.

What has the world come to? I’m turning in to my parents.

*sigh* I blame Lee’s job.

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Tags: bad day, clique, cranky day, don't make me pull this car over, mom card, parent nightmares, this is my house and you will follow my rules