Sometimes your kids learn "woulda, coulda, shoulda" on their own. And sometimes it seems they will never learn.
Like today.
Yesterday Drew said he would wash the dishes and clean up the living room before he has a friend over. He also was babysitting in that time frame, which he knew before he offered to do those jobs. Well, he didn't finish them. Sam was his excuse. I told him that Sam would nap and that he should lay down with him, it wouldn't take long. I know he heard that because he said "Hey, that will work out great with having Ben over." He did not put Sam down for a nap, finish the living room or finish the dishes. But he did have Ben over and played games.
So today, Donnie told him he wasn't going to be using our cars to go to his DEP call until he did the dishes he said he would do. Drew refused and decided we are being ridiculous. (we are also ridiculous because we don't accept a chore as done if he is the 3rd person to do that chore that day, um, sure, someone made a little mess in it after it got cleaned, but you don't get credit for a 2 minute chore)
Donnie told him do the dishes or find your own way. So, he hung up on Donnie and stormed out of the house. He spent 45 minutes getting his car running and took off. Soon he called needing OUR AAA number to tow his car. If he had just spent 45 minutes on the dishes he wouldn't be in that predicament, now would he? He hung up on both Donnie and I. Donnie asked him if he was going to tow the car home, and Drew didn't know because some guy said the part was probably only a $20 part. He ended up hanging up on Donnie a second time.
And then he had the nerve to call home to see if we had money to spare to fix his car that he did NOT have towed home. (and didn't apologize first) Now he is stuck 45 minutes from home, doesn't have his bank card or a working car. And he hung up on both of his parents a total of 3 times tonight.
Now, lest you think we are being harsh, even Grandma agrees that he is doing a horrid job of lazing out on chores and is being disrespectful. When grandma isn't on your side, somethings wrong, my friend. Especially when grandma is a pushover.
Don't you think doing the dishes would have been easier? (for an adult working person who doesn't pay rent, utilities, food, and rarely even pays his car insurance?)
7 people think my kids are qtpies:
Sounds like Drew is preparing to make his way in the world. Someday, he's going to look back at this incident and squirm.
OH my goodness...back to spanking, I guess! You think he would get it sometime! LOL~
I hope he realizes that he needs to work on his respect, and do his tasks.
Wow, I remember being that disrespectful...once. Sounds like basic training is just what he needs right about now. LOL Seriously though, my brother was like that and he flourished in the marines. Hang in there mama!
Some kids just like to learn the HARD WAY. Hang in there one day he will have kids of his own.
Ah, sounds absolutely joyful. :( Disrespect is such a hard thing to handle. I really hope he will realize what he has done. Tough situation.
Fun with teens. In less than a month he'll see someone way more demanding and unreasonable than you could ever be! Maybe then he'll be thankful to do only dishes rather than clean a bathroom with a toothbrush!
That, my dear, sounds like our Jon about two weeks before he left for basic training. Just smile, stick to your guns, and realize that he'll get a good dose of "YOU'LL DO THAT OR ELSE, PRIVATE!!!" (or, um, airman) in a few weeks. And it will not let up. And it won't be your fault.
Sweet revenge, that's what "life" is.
Post a Comment