Tues May 17th

This is not a sustainable model: mom cleaning up the whole house, late into the night. It takes way too much time to do it all on my own. Then as the kids get older the mess is only going to get bigger. As we have more kids, the mess will also get bigger.  I need to teach my kids to work. I am doing them a disservice and myself a disservice. Ella is very talented at figuring out ways to avoid hard labor. I just need to be more consistent and more persistent and help her to see the joys that come from working hard. Lisey wants to work hard but she often makes messes of things on accident. I need to let her work. Even if it makes more of a mess at the time, the future of her being a hard worker will be well worth it. Come on Brooke, you can do it. Be patient and long-suffering and teach them an important life lesson that will change their lives.

We went to Stephanie Caswell's baby shower tonight. I brought Ella and Lisey along. They had a surprisingly good time. I think they were a little bored at first, but then they played outside for a while and were ecstatic when the presents were brought out. They ooo-ed and awed at all of the cute little girl clothes and helped Stephanie unwrap each gift, showing each one around the room. We of course stayed way later than planned and the girls were wrestling by the end of things, but overall they were good. Unfortunately they didn't get to bed till close to 10 and that's when I begin my cleaning trek. I only could get the kitchen cleaned, not the whole house. It's just takes too much time. It's time to teach the kids to pick up after themselves. Things need to change.