Family - it's where your story begins.

Monday, January 11, 2010

The Bicker Brothers are at it again

I gave my boys the group nickname "The Bicker Brothers." They argue a lot and pick on each other a lot. I don't know why they do it; you'd think they'd learn by now, but no. At least once a day I tell them to treat each other how they, individually, would want to be treated.

The other day at lunchtime, we were sitting at the table and the boys were fighting, calling each other names and carrying on. I told them to stop and try to say something nice about each other instead of fighting. The youngest thought of all sorts of things about his brother, starting with "I love you" and ending with "I like your hair." The oldest couldn't think of a single nice thing to say about his little brother. I was appalled!! How pathetic it was that J couldn't think of anything! I know J wishes K had never been born, and that he could trade in his little brother for a new model, but I felt horrible for K.

I think next time they argue, I'll have them whisper their argument. I'm sure it won't continue much longer and they may end up laughing instead.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Resolutions, anyone?

It's the start of a new year once again. We go through this same thing every 365 days. It's time we assess our lives and decide if we want to better ourselves or do things differently this year.

I asked my family if any of them had any New Year's resolutions. My husband said that he didn't make any and he never does. My youngest (7) said, "I am going to make lunch for mom once a week." Melted my heart, I tell you! My oldest couldn't think of anything, so I gave him one that I thought he would say (if he had thought about it long enough). I said, "I would imagine you saying something like 'I want to get a really good score on a Wii game'" and everyone thought that was a great idea and a good resolution. No one really asked me what my resolutions were or if I had any. Well, here is what I have come up with and they are in no particular order:

  • Organize my house
  • Finish all the books in the house that have been sitting, unread, for a long time
  • Cook more to give hubby a break, even though he enjoys cooking
  • Blog more often
  • Sew more
  • Lean to knit and crochet
  • Spend time alone with God more
  • Declutter
  • Scrapbook more

That's enough. That's almost so much that I want to run for the hills and never come back! Oh, but I'm an adult and can't do that... as tempting as it sounds. I need to reprioritize my life and get back to the things I used to enjoy. Nowadays, it's all workworkwork and help-the-kids-with-their-homework and help-with-dinner and get-the-kids-in-the-tub/shower and make-sure-the-kids-have-done-their-chores and on and on. I need to make time for myself and the things I want to accomplish in the coming year.

So here's to 2010. A new year, a new attitude - out with the old and in with the new.