Party In The Bathroom!
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 9:36AM 
The day that I finally let go of the expectation that either of my children would ever manage to hang up a towel instead of wadding it up was a good day. It was a good day, because from then on, I wasn't so pissed. The day that I stopped hoping my kids would someday genuinely enjoy fish of any kind that wasn't stick-shaped was a relief. They didn't have to like it. I could still cook it and enjoy it, blissful in my lack of hope that my children would be anything other than devastated by dinner that evening. Letting go of unrealistic expectations is an essential part of mothering, in my opinion.
Still - this morning when I plugged my hairdryer in, and found it was smeared with dried toothpaste, I was annoyed. How did DRIED TOOTHPASTE get on my hairdryer!? While it was underneath the counter!?
Dried toothpaste was also - of course - all over everything else. I choose not to imagine. I took the picture before I called the kids up to scrub the mess. You see the pink stuff beside the hairdryer? That's mouthwash. Somebody had a hum-dinger with the dental hygiene this morning! Sigh...
Brenna Gibson Redpath | 4 Comments | Email Article | Stumble, Digg, etc. | in Rants | tagged messy kids
Reader Comments (4)
At least they are using toothpaste and mouthwash. And as we know, the more that they use toothpase and mouthwash for something, the greater the chance that they will accidently get some in their mouth. That to me is a win win.
A few years ago I walked into the bathroom to some ungodly mess of toothpaste or lipstick, or deodorant or shampoo or vaseline, I don't remember, it was just an ungodly mess. Whilst questioning my 2 darling children as to the source of this amazing work of art, the older child produced photographs of the younger creating the masterpiece (on the bathroom as well as himself). He said that he took the photos as proof that it was not he that had done the deed. Of course it had not occured to him to stop or in any way impeed his younger brother.
It’s a fabulous mantra for all parents: Lower your standards. Lower your expectations. Lower your stress-levels.
I like it. I try to practice it, but as easy as it sounds it’s difficult to maintain.
Sorry Brenna, as your mother I can just smile and think...."Isn't karma sweet"! You are not alone however, your sister is right up there with you.
Being a grandmother has several benefits. I can watch one of my grand children do the same thing that his or her mom did, see the frustration in their mother and just laugh. I venture to say that I am not the only grandmother that does that!
Someday Brenna, you can look on and think....."Isn't karma sweet!"