Parents these days. First let me start off by saying that I know my husband and I are not "perfect" parents by any means.
Spend time with your kids:
At this moment, the thing right of the top of my head is how self indulged parents are. Besides structure and rules what do kids love the most? Spending time with their Mommy and Daddy! I know, I know your show is on and you have been waiting to see it, but shut the damn tv OFF. No, making your kids watch your show is not spending time with them. If for some reason you wont get off your ass, then let the kids pick a show or a movie that THEY like. You know that stupid movie with the idiotic charaters and the story that makes no sense but it makes you kid laugh their ass off. The one you hate so damn much that every time your kids wants to watch it you roll your eyes and say how stupid it is, yeah that one. Shut the fuck up and watch it. How do you think you are making you kids feel when you make your snide little comments? They look up to you and want to be like you and will change their opinion of what they like to match yours so they don't feel lame in your eyes. If your show is so much more important than your kids, take advantage of commercials. Play a game of tick-tack-toe, rock paper scissors, eye spy or at the very least ask how their day was and actually listen and engage in the conversation with them, not just nodding your head and saying ok every few minutes.
Deciding to spend time with your kids does not mean that you have to leave the house and spend a bunch of money. It also does not mean that you have to stop any of the productive things around the house that you need to get done. Stay home and have fun and get things done. Do you spend hours of your day out side gardening? Have your kids help you or make a small garden area JUST for them (that way if they are not doing everything just the way you want, it will not be messing with your set up or killing your flowers). If your kids are on the younger side, they will do this kind of things with no hesitation. But if you have older kids, they may fight a bit especially if what you are doing does not have a screen, keyboard or controller. Another thing that will make this more of a fight with the older shits, is if you have not given them responsiblity of chores (WITHOUT PAY). Deal with it, be the parent and tell your child that yes you will help. But do not hold your anger through out the activity, tell jokes lighten the mood and turn this into a great time that they will want to repeat.
There are so many things you can do around the house with your kids, pick one and do it!
As a mother of five, I know that parents need a break from time to time.
More from this loud mouth, tattooed Momm later!
