Sep 12 2008
Welcome to this mama's army
Being a no-nonsense mama means I constantly order my kids around. Since Nathan is the older one who "should know better," he gets it most often. Here's the morning drill:
"It's late. Why aren't you dressed yet?"
"Pick up your pajamas and put 'em away!"
"Why are you up from the table? Finish your breakfast already!"
"For the third time, put your coat on! We gotta go!!"
"Nathan, please get your seatbelt buckled NOW!"
I'm not sure who it bothers more. Nathan must be tired of his mama yelling at him all the time. But I hate being such a nag. Still isn't that what parenting is all about? You make sure they're doing what they're supposed to be doing even if you have to act like a drill sergeant most of the time. It's a "shape up or ship out" kind of mentality.
Still I'm not a complete hard ass. I do let my guard down, like today. As usual, Nathan came home from school starving. Honestly, you'd think I sent him off with a couple of pretzels instead of a sandwich, a pudding pack, a juice box, two energy bars, and some cheese crackers. In addition, he gets an afternoon snack at school. But he's a growing, active boy and needs plenty of food. So when we got home he had a scrambled egg with cheese and ham, a big bowl of microwave popcorn, and two glasses of my diet soda.
I had considered the soda a special treat, so when he came in the kitchen asking for ice cream, I wanted to tell him no way. Instead, I caved in a little and gave him a big scoop of vanilla. After he finished, he gave me a cold, sticky, ice cream kiss, and told me that I was the best mom ever.
Putting Drill Sgt. Mama on momentary furlough can be very rewarding.
