Days 2,3 and 4: The Kids are Definitely Victorious!

I'm thinking that last Saturday, when I gave the kids the option of skipping Disneyland or going without Mom's chores for a week, they picked Mom's chores because they smelled an easy victory.

So yes, Tuesday they poured their own bowls of cereal, but that is about it. I had hired a guy to come clean the outside of my windows, which meant I spent more time cleaning the inside to get ready.

Then it was piano lessons. I had to run get cash because that is the only thing the piano teacher can accept. Obviously, an errand for the kids.

Then it was Parent-Teacher Conferences. A task that I abhor, but still found myself having to participate in. Drag all the kids to the school (of course the kids want to go because the book fair is going on at the same time), run George to gymnastics in the middle of this (with Cara because he still won't go without someone there the whole time), back to the school (eight minutes late for Maddie's appointment), learn that she is very quiet in class (can't bring that talent home, apparently), get to Sam's appointment so late that the teacher has moved onto the next kid (find out he is getting two C's for not turning in work), have his teacher tell me how brilliant he is (just can't show how brilliant he is because all of his work is sitting in his desk, not turned in), dash off to retrieve Cara from watching George to take her to YW activity, drop the kids off at home and then run back to get George from gymnastics, hoping to just run on out and get home but ran into his coach, apparently he wants to move George up to team without tryouts (should be proud, but now he will work out more and that means someone has to watch him), take George back home while he is upset because he's not proud either, give up on baths, put the kids in bed.

The kids won.

That was only day two. Day three found me washing all the window screens because the window washer didn't do it. Then I planted bulbs because although it was 87 last week, snow is in the forecast for Saturday (so glad I cleaned the windows). And then my personal favorite, dress the kids up and take them all to a piano recital involving 28 students! Cara, Sam and Maddie performed well, while George and Max played Nintendo ds semi-quietly in their seats. The recital started at 6:00 and ended about 7:45. No dinner and the kids were starving. To settle the arguments, I ended up going through two drive-throughs. Again, the kids won.

Day four: small victory for me. I didn't have to report for jury duty. Small victory because that means I will get called again in the next couple of weeks.

I started the day by packing lunches. The kids were running late and I gave in.

For dinner I thought I would make it a little harder. I gave them all dough and told them to make their own pizzas. They were thrilled. It wasn't work at all. George started calling himself, "Chef Remi." Sam was called to give the blessing on the food. In his prayer, he expressed gratitude, "And thank you that we could make our own pizzas." Obviously, they had missed the point. Not to mention the mess they made with the flour.

I insisted on baths tonight. While getting Max and George out of the tub, Max wanted to see how dark it was. I flipped off the lights. George started screaming. I turned the light back on and he was in tears, "Bloody Mary. You can see her." He was shaking. Someone told Sam that if you turn off the lights in the bathroom, you can see Bloody Mary in the mirror. Sam told George. Much like my sister Tracy told me the same thing when I was little. To this day, I can't look in the mirror at night without remembering Tracy's instructions to turn around while chanting, "Bloody Mary" at midnight. Now George will have the same haunting images. It's good to know that things like this don't skip generations.

After tubs, it was time for scriptures. As George and Max would not stop running around, I told them to sit on the stairs, but not by each other. George sat down, and Max went to sit right next to him. George sensed my growing impatience and urged Max to pick another stair. Max exclaimed, "Then I can't wipe my boogers on you," effectively ending scripture study for the night.

So, as you can see, despite the fact that I haven't driven the kids to school this week, I respectfully remain, "their servant." Steve comes home from New Jersey tonight. Perhaps he can tally the score in our favour? Yah, right.