Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Nag!


I have to say that in the grand scheme of things I am one lucky woman. I have 6 beautiful, healthy and for the most part polite kiddo's. My house is filled most days with laughter, all days with pet hair, and every night they tell me they love me before they head off to bed. Ben never fails to tell me that I am the best cook ever (even if its a tuna sandwich) and Nick is growing up to be a man that any woman would be lucky to marry. With that said....

I have officially become a NAG. In a house with 6 children, one 20, 4 teens and one preteen it is almost impossible to get anyone to help on their own. I have become very creative with incentives, schedules etc, but I am finding that more and more I just nag until it is completed. I have found myself coming home on my lunch hour to clean, so that I can come home to a reasonably clean house. Socks have found their permanent home between the pillows on my couch, no matter how big a garbage can I buy there is always over flow, imagine if you can 8 people using a fresh glass every time they get a drink times 24 hours in a day and can you possibly grasp the amount of laundry that accumulates after my 3 teen girls change clothes 5 times in one day?

Well it has all come to a halt. Here is a portion of a letter that I will be leaving the children tonight.

"Beginning today there will no longer be television in this house. Do not turn on the televisions in your room, the den or the living room. You are unable to pay the bill because you have not completed your job and have not been paid for this week.

As required by law there will be adequate nutrition in the house. Fortunately for us, we are not required to cook it, serve it etc. …Only to provide it. Food is now available in the kitchen and pantry. Eating out is not an option for the children in this house. You cannot afford to eat out; you have not been paid for the week due to failure to complete your job.

Do not ask the taxi service to take you anywhere. You cannot afford a taxi; pedal power is free…utilize it.

This is not a hotel; you will not be able to phone the front desk for a morning wake up call anymore. Set your alarm and get up.

The laundry mat at the Caplinger house is shut down. We will no longer be hanging your clothes over our bed. Wash your own clothes, hang them in your own room, and put them away. There is a folding rack under our bed, which you may use. The baskets on the washer and dryer will disappear tonight. This has become another excuse to pile clothes throughout this house. If your clothes are found throughout this house they will be taken to the Salvation Army and given to a family that will cherish the ability to have so many outfits. A laundry schedule will be posted regarding the specifics on how you will be allowed to wash and at what times you will be allowed to use the laundry facilities "

As anyone with kids knows this will go over like a fart in church. So wish us luck. We will be presenting it at family meeting tonight, at which point my sweet hubby and I will be going out to dinner.

After all... who wants to hang around after this poop bomb gets dropped.

Wish us luck, we may need it. I will keep you all posted.


It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

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