Don't Get Me "Cranked" Up

October 12, 2011

cranky - adjective- ill-tempered; grouch; cross

"Mom, why are you so cranky again?" And so begins the rant. Somebody please tell me that I'm not the only mamma who finds herself cranky more often than she'd like to be.

After telling my sweet little deaf children exactly what I expect them to do, I return to the scene of the crime to find that I was ignored, again. {Insert mild frustration.}

Then I step in what is {hopefully} some sort of super scientific sticky experiment honey. "Who had something sticky?", I ask. "Oh, I got myself some honey for my sore throat", Drake answered. And then I see it all over the counter, too. {Now, I'm starting to get more frustrated.} Can't they see when they spill something? What is it that prevents my kids from just giving the mess a quick swipe with one of my handy-dandy kitchen towels that always seems to be waiting begging to be used? {Feeling a little bit like they're taking advantage of me.}

Earlier in the day, there were NO more utensils. Not so much as a butter knife was clean. Now, I have recently had a conversation with my eldest about what to do when the dishwasher is full. There was a full on demonstration and everything. One pop quiz later and we've got a big, fat "F"- as in, Eat With Your Hands! {At this point, I am convinced that I am raising cave men.} What gives?

So, what do I do?  In the famous words of Dori: "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming."  So. That's what I'm going to do. Keep on swimming, oblivious to how many times I've just had the same experience. I'm gonna put on that smile and...

...and I probably should remember that I've not always been the most obedient child either. There's hope. There's always hope. And if I run out of hope, I can hire a cleaning service....

...or I can use my wit...

Mom: Don't think of it as cleaning your room, think of it as a treasure hunt and the prize is finding the floor!

What's your best advice? I'd love to hear it!

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6