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Money-Money-Money-Money... MONEY!
Tue Jul 13 2004

OK, I've had that dumb theme to Donald Trump's The Apprentice stuck in my mind all morning. It is driving me nuts!

Today is turning out to be a somewhat relaxing day. After running a few errands this morning (one which I will have to re-run later as the line at the pharmacy was ridiculous) I think I’m done and in for the day.

#2 has taken the initiative to go earn money for something he wants. He put together all he needs to wash cars and is making the circuit through the neighborhood in search of dirty cars. I noticed almost immediately he walked right past ours, which desperately need washing. I’ll have to point that out to him when he gets home.

#1 on the other hand, I’ve been having problems with the last couple days. He has to raise $50 to pay me back for something, and he refuses to do anything about it. Today I drew the line, if I don’t see him start making an effort to earn the money in any way possible (mow lawns, wash cars, wash windows, give dogs a bath, etc.) I’m taking the TV, his disc-man, his stereo, books, bookshelf, chair, and everything else out of his room. All he will have in there is his bed, clothes and dresser. If he doesn’t like it, tough, I’m sick of the attitude and it WILL stop NOW. I have to start this while Hubby is still here to back me up. While he is gone (which will be for most of the summer) I know I will have a more difficult time persuading #1 to be more cooperative. #1 may not like it, but too bad. It is time he learned to take responsibility for himself. He is 14 years old, and that is WAY too old for him to still be coddled; it may take my boot shoving his ass out the door to get him started, but he will get started.

OK, speaking of getting started, there is some furniture I want to move around. I want to get it done before Hubby gets home so I don’t get talked out of it.

15 Comments
  • From:
    Yetzirah (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    Ah, fourteen year old boys.

    So precious.

    I remember it well.....
    :-)
  • From:
    AnneOakley (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    Sure~ go ahead.Have fun!

    Hugs, ao
  • From:
    ImNotLisa (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    Good luck on all counts! :o)
  • From:
    Enchantedbutterfly (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    You're one tough momma! Woohoo!

  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    I had a battle with my #2 when he was 16 or 17. He finally ended up with "Well! I guess you're going to pull rank on me." My reply: "Yes, and I have the rank to pull, and don't you ever forget it!"

    End of debate.

    So, carry on Mom. You have the rank to do it!

    Shalom
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    Can I send you my 15 year old? He could use a good kick in the butt too. *grins at the mere thought*

    RYC: I have tried all sorts of things as I have worked with both an internist and a naturopathic phycisian on this. A fellow diarist has sent me a home remedy that worked him so will try that too. It can't hurt. Wouldn't it be great if the answer was found by coming here. lol Lots cheaper and way more fun. :)

    BTW, happy canning this weekend.
  • From:
    TraumaMama (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Jul 13 2004
    My son is behaving for a change, but I think he is in fear of what is going to happen to him.
    Boy and teenage years, it isn't pretty.
  • From:
    Toxicepiphany (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Jul 14 2004
    Move it while you can! I don't know why, but males prefer to leave furniture where it was first put. Silly males.
  • From:
    Adored (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Jul 14 2004
    what dogs? LOL
    that little rearranging sounds so familiar to me. hmmmm i think i may have doen that, a million or so times. it always starts out as something little, but ends up a huge project that i love in the end.

    im so happy to hear i am not the only mom in the world who has to resort to clearing a bedroom of everything but the bed to get a kid to do somethingA! my daughter is almost 13. she has lost everything and still, months later, not earned it back. simple chores. thats all i am asking for here. i told her the other day that she will soon have a sleeping bag on the floor if she doesnt get her butt in gear. this summer break really seems to have taken a toll on her. somehow she thinks that passing the 6tth grade gives her to right to lay on the beach all day and do nothing at home. where did this alien come from?????
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Jul 14 2004
    I hate moving furniture, and I do it under grumbling protest. When I move, I even lay out on a scale drawing, scale modelled furniture drawings so I know exactly where every piece is going.

    I have a jillion books and bookcases to hold them, and believe me, that's a pain to move for any reason!!

    But I think I'd do it gladly if the manager said I was getting new carpeting.

    Shalom
  • From:
    ImNotLisa (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Jul 14 2004
    Good joke! I read it to Rick and we both laughed. Thanks! :o)
  • From:
    Toxicepiphany (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Jul 14 2004
    I guess they DO get it right sometimes! :o)
  • From:
    DancingButterfly (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Jul 14 2004
    Your approach to #1 was a great idea. I've often wondered why parents say 'go to your room' when these days a child's room is paradise - music, computers, etc. Taking those things out and then sending them to the room would be a good idea in future for me I think. I know my little boy is still VERY little, but I do need to think about the future - he's going to be big, and me being on my own most of the time, I'll need a way to manage him! I do hope that his father will be here with me fulltime soon, but that remains to be seen.
  • From:
    Sugardancer1007 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Jul 15 2004
    I have managed to not have too many problems yet from either of my kids. I don't allow them to have TVs or telephones in their rooms and the computer is in the family area so that I can keep an eye on what they are doing. Since its always been that way, they don't think too much about it. Going to their room when in trouble is just that. But then I realized that they would go to sleep while being "punished". Oh no way!! So now, I save the really "interesting" housekeeping duties for that. My daughter and son hated mopping the kitchen floor...by hand. Yep, they had to get down on their hands and knees because the mop just wasn't doing a good job. LOL!!

    Cute joke...
  • From:
    Bogomils (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Jul 18 2004
    I love the joke! Thanks for sharing it. I must pass this one on.

    Bright Blessings.... Bogo