I have the worst headache right now! It's about 12:30 at night and I can't sleep. Here's what I did today: 6:45 am: Woke up 11-year-old cousin for school. 10 am: Woke up and got Aunty ready for the 11:30 visit by the home health nurse and the 12:30 visit by the physical therapist (who came just for an initial evaluation). After she left, Aunty decided that she doesn't like the therapist and may call the agency to tell them that she doesn't need physical therapy). After that, she complained because I misplaced some important paperwork of hers (which resulted in a shouting match because this is not the first time I have los t something of hers around the house.) Later, when POA cousin came to pick up her son (whom we watch after school), we went out to get take-out for everyone's dinner. Back home, I realized that I forgot to get 11-year-old's food (he wanted something from a different store).So Aunty complained about my forgetfulness. This led to another discussion of how I lost a piece of her jewelry while she was in the hospital. When cousin POA went out, I had to watch the 16-month old. She returned, then we ate.She stayed for another hour or two and left, but the 11-year old is spending the night and I have to wake him up for school. After a while, I got Aunty ready for bed, ironed the 11-year old's school uniform and ran his bath, then cleaned up after him when he was done. Then I watched a little TV with Aunty. When our show was over, I went to bed but couldn't rest for about 2 hours. Typed this post , then took a Tylenol PM. Hopefully I'll get to sleep soon.
By the time he was seven he could cook a sunday roast and time it to get it all cooked by the same time. While my daughter was the plain cook and followed instructions my son was inventive so we had roasted vegetables long before they became popular - trial and error stuff and some disasters (brussel sprouts dont roast well!) They tidied their rooms from the time they could get things out of the toy box - if they can get em out they can put em back. They helped me do the washing loading unloading or hanging out theyhelped me dust so they knew how to do it.
SO they were well versed. Now however my son drives me nuts - he is almost OCD about tidiness in the home. My DIL is a very tidy person but cant boil an egg, however she can do all manner of things artistically and my grandsons room has had a full disney park painted on all four walls by hand and then a cars scene and now it is about to become Jurassic Park so between them they have amazing skills but they have tidiness at the top of the list. He never leaves a spoon unwashed let alone the breakfast things, she puts every reel of cotton back in colour order in her reel case (Idont even have a reel case for heavens sake)
I dont regret teaching my son and daughter that all the work in the house is to be shared though - my son can knit and sew, my daughter can clean gutters and wield a paint brush
I was murderous at the lack of respect to me.
So when he went out I went shopping and bought a large suitcase from a jumble sale I think it only cost me a couple of pounds/$ .When I got it home I wrote in large felt tip pen letters
Why dont you leave home while you know it all?
Well that night he called my bluff and went... I was devastated but i knew this was a lesson he had to learn. He was 17 so I rang his head of year - and explained the whole situation to him through the tears. He was quite supportive but I could tell he thought I was a loony tune.
My son stayed away 3 nights and then rang me to ask to come home. He came home but home was very different. If he couldnt be in by the designated time the doors were locked and bolted. I was reasonable midnight or even up until 2 if he rang to let me know at weekends 11 pm duting the week BUT ONLY IF HOMEWORK WAS DONE FIRST. And my house was not to be used as either a hotel or a cat house
He is now a great guy but he never forgets that I set him boundaries and forced him to acept them or go..... his choice. He's had to set his own boundaries with his children of late and he now knows just how hard it is to do but how important it is to do it from the get go.
So go set those boundaries gal if you dont you will rue the day hun