I have been a really bad blogger lately. My time has disappeared! Back
to School overtakes my life, the preparation, the early mornings, the supplies,
the uniforms, the forms to sign at night, getting back into a routine, chores.
Never mind that I have also had some really special
events or will have this week (a visit from my Swiss Petal , big pool party
today which Mom was sick so could not watch the kids so last minute shuffle, 22
people for pool party tomorrow night. PS tomorrow night I arrive home at 6pm!!!
Yes I am clinically insane.
And I have sooooo much to write about. For starters I
lost my daughter in a shopping mall L(Security
team and all when stores had closed etc….) Horrible horrible (but slightly funny)
story. Cleary she is safe and sound or never would I be writing this silly
blog.
Today I however in the 10 short minutes I carved out,
bring to you my new number #1 parenting tip:
Nagging
Time.
I can’t say it works or does not as it has only been
effect in my house for less than 24 hrs. But so far I like it and so do my
kids. I personally think it is quite brilliant (aren’t all the idea that last
less than 24 hrs?)
This is how is works:
You only nag your kids at a
certain hour of the day ( or several periods depending on how disobedience
and lazy they really are)
Sometimes the best and most brilliant of ideas are the
simplest right?
Do you find yourself being annoyed by your own voice? You
finger shaking in the air more often than you give hugs? Do you find you raise
your voice often? Become irritable with your kids? Have a constant to do list
playing in your head and recite it often
aloud to your children?Do you find that you often don’t stop nagging in any
given day unless you are actively engaged in a concentrated activity?
Then Nagging Time is for YOU!!!! Choose a time of day
(like for me is after dinner for about 45 mins) and NAG AWAY. Warn them that
that hour you will shake your finger, raising your voice and generally be very
bitchy and bossy and a control freak. Keep a list all day of all the things you
want to nag them about and then fire away at 8-9pm!
Genius
eh??? (Why do I get the feeling this post will go virile or become a bestselling
book??:)))
And the rest of the time? JUST SHUT UP!
So I tried out my new strategy for the first time yesterday
(it has been brewing in my mind for about 10 yrs now and thought time to put into
practice). It was second day of school and the Becel was left on counter, crumbs
on floor, I knew they had agendas to sign that were not on desk, son had not texted
when he went to ice-cream store afterschool, etc..etc..etc…
My instinct was to come down in morning while they were
quietly eating breakfast and fire away!!! Nicely but still nagging. Instead I
kissed and hugged them both…chatted….said bye and held my tongue. Hard but successful.
This earned me two I love you (vs. major eye rolling) before they headed out.
Then came home and all three ignored me as I came in and
barely looked up. Said hi under their breath as they stared at the computer,
were not doing homework at the time they should have been, were not getting any
fresh air outside as instructed. What did I do? Nothing! Just wrote down their crimes on my secret nagging list.
After diner 8pm comes and then it is time to nag! For a
full 45 mins! I raise my voice-wag my finger- gets in their face, follow them
around house to make chores done properly. Then I call them in one by one and
go over the blips of the day, review the rules, tell them what is not working.
Then it is all over.
At 8:45
sharp I stop. At 9:15pm I sweetly tuck them in and
refrain from reminding them what time we are driving the next day, to pack
lunch, to clean up room, to put laundry outside of room.
Just kisses and hugs.
This time I was rewarded by many I love yous by all three
and 2 sweet texts today saying I am the best mommy in there world!!! Something
must have worked!!!
I figure if my husband can give up vodka martinis that he
has had every night for 30 years surely I can limit my own addition to 1 hr a
day. (nagging that is?)I want to do something revolutionary (just like him) and
this is IT!
I will let you know how the next few weeks go…if I can
keep it up that is. This takes a hell of
a lot of restraint so far I tell you. What will I do with all of this energy??
(FYI-I am considering going up to two sessions of nag time per day
each of 45 mins)
Virile!!! Remember!
Pass it on and make me famous for my new invention!!!
