Late for Mother's Day and in no particular order:
- I had more than one child.
- I expect them to do chores.
- I nag them when their chores aren't done and take away privileges.
- I don't pay them to do chores.
- They are responsible for their own laundry.
- Even though their father drives them crazy (and me, too, sometimes), I stay married to him.
- In fact, their father and I have a healthy intimate relationship and I tell the kids they should be happy about it instead of thinking it's "gross."
- They don't get everything they want.
- I buy them clothes from second-hand stores and their shoes on sale.
- I expect them to call other adults "Mr." or "Mrs." or "Miss" followed by that person's last name.
- I expect them to say "Please" and "Thank you."
- I make them greet the host and hostess at a party (usually the parents of their friends) and to thank the host and hostess when they leave.
- I make them write legible Thank You notes, correctly spelled and punctuated, and following the correct form.
- I make them go to Mass.
- I sent them to Catholic grammar school.
- I made them join Scouts.
- Hubs and I are actively involved in their lives, especially Scouts.
- I wouldn't let them quit an activity or a team in the middle of a season. And I made them feel very guilty if they couldn't play due to academic ineligibilty.
- I read to them.
- I made them read.
- I made them join the local library's Summer Reading Program every summer.
- I took them to museums and science centers, whether they wanted to go or not.
- We stop at historical markers and read them.
- I ask them personal questions.
- I made them share their rooms with their siblings.
- I don't buy junk food (much).
- I don't take them to fast food restaurants often.
- I don't cook a different dinner to each of them. If they have a problem with what I'm serving, they can fix themselves a bowl of cereal. Or pick out what they don't like.
- For vacation, I make them camp in dirt and sleep in a tent and swim in a lake or a creek.
- I drag them to historical re-enactments, Pioneer Days, and County Museums.
- They didn't automatically get their license and a car at 16.
- They couldn't/can't get a piercing of any sort until they are 18.
- I made them go to Confirmation class.
- At family parties, I made them greet each and every aunt, uncle, grandaunt, granduncle, and grandparent in the room. And kiss or hug them. (Kissing cousins is optional.)
- I play classical music in the morning before they go to school. And in the car on the way to school.
- If they don't like my music, I put on "Sourdough Slim, the Yodeling Cowboy."
- I forced my children to listen to Celtic music and classic rock, too.
- I dragged them to every special event that was free in our community. And to quite a few that weren't--especially Celtic festivals.
- I talk about why I think abortion is murder.
- I talk about why I don't support the death penalty.
- I know everyone in my local community and they all spy on my kids for me. (Not quite true, but true enough!)
- I have high expectations of them.
- I expect them always to do their best and give 100% effort.
- I know they're not perfect and I tell them that.
- I love them anyway.
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