Take This Job And Shove It

Today, I hate being a mom. There I said it. I know some reading this are going to probably crucify me for saying that. Well, go for it, because right now, I don't care.

I love my children. I really and honestly do. But sometimes it is just so freaking hard. Anyone who reads my blog regularly, you know ~ all 5 of you, knows that I adore them and their funny ways. And most days I find them absolutely hilarious. But a lot of times, well, not so much.

You see, along with their humor, they all seem to carry this very strong-willed personality. Everyone has their difficult child. That child, the one that fights you EVERY.STEP.OF.THE.WAY on EVERY.SINGLE.TASK. Well, God blessed me with 3 like that. I always say they will make WONDERFUL adults someday. BUT 3 kids that strong-willed can be a bit exhausting.

W., as you know, got a very rocky start to life. He has always been a very, VERY active child. His impulse control, quite literally, scares the beejeezus out of me at times. He has a tendency to think before he acts and sometimes this leads to him or someone else getting hurt. His cardiologist told me about a year ago that the A.D.H.D. like symptoms seem to be linked to the type of congenital heart defect he had when he was born. So I face, sometimes wondering, "Can he help himself?" Are his meltdowns just part of the birth defect? And let me tell you, the boy CAN meltdown. It is emotionally draining. He can be more challenging to manage than my other two, combined.

T., well he is probably my easiest of the three. I say it's because he has the typical middle child personality. Always the mediator and peacemaker. But he can be a handful too. I think sometimes it's because the oldest and youngest can take so much of the limelight. He's great at antagonizing and arguing, RELENTLESSLY. I think he needs to be heard. He doesn't want his siblings getting all of the attention.

R., ahhhhh, Miss R. My teeny, tiny firecracker. The 4 1/2 year old that still wears 3T clothing. The one that looks so cute and innocent. HA! The one that will ball up her fist and punch you square in the stomach after she runs at you from across the room like a banshee. The one that will attack her brothers with the ferocity of a tiger when provoked. AAAAhhhhh....that one is not going to take squat from anyone. I'll be getting lots of phone calls home from school when she gets there. Secretly, I kind of like that about her, but I'm tired of getting clocked when I tell her, "No more snacks!"

All 3 were in rare form tonight. Actually, they've been in rare form a lot lately. Mr. Schmitty and I were at the end of our ropes. We didn't know whether to use those ropes to tie them to chairs or around our own necks.

So we laid down the law. They lost dessert. They were in bed at 7:30. They have lost all electronic goodies (i.e. TV, Wii, Gameboys, and Computer) until further notice.

They will get them back when they learn a little self-control, respect for us and each other, and they decide to begin working as a family.

This could take a while.