“Do. Your. Homework. Don’t wait until the last minute!”
I said this more than once this weekend.
Naturally, it’s Monday and my kids and I were caught scrambling to get everything done before their bus came this morning.
Whoever said that you can’t make breakfast AND lunches while searching high and low for matching socks AND help your kids figure out the answers to complicated physics questions was WRONG. When you’re in panic mode and don’t have time to think, you can accomplish ANYTHING. (Yes, Einstein. This too, is a natural law.)
While Jonathan, Samantha and I rushed to get everything done within a span of about 25 minutes this morning, we were clearly in multi-task mode – even able to nurse visions of DISASTER.
My kids’ vision: Detention.
My vision: A heart attack.
Conclusion: We managed to get it all done. No detention. And only a mild form of a heart attack.
Phew.
And BUT . . .
I learned something this morning.
The next time (read: this coming weekend) when I tell my kids to do their homework and they tell me, “I’ll do it right after . . . this show . . . I finish this game . . . tonight . . . tomorrow morning . . .” here’s what I’m going to say:
“NO. Do your homework NOW!”
Yup. And I’m going to say it exactly like that because apparently they only listen when I’m frustrated and yelling like a mad woman anyway. And since I know this, why wouldn’t I just skip over all the ignored pleasantries and jump right into it?
It’s the natural law of parental physics, people!
I was a yeller because it was apparent that my kids were deaf. And plus, they had absolutely no fear of detention. I think they considered it social hour. I have not yelled one time since they left. At anybody…for any reason. It’s such a relief.
I hear you. The only time I EVER yell is when speaking to my kids . . . after the 17th time of repeating the same thing.