So I’ve come to the conclusion that my kids have no sense of being late or keeping to deadlines. Why is it that whenever I give them the ten minute warning for us needing to leave the house to do the dreaded school/ playgroup run and I give the instruction for teeth to be cleaned, shoes, jumpers and coats to be located and put on, no-one seems to move with any sense of urgency (I’m not sure anyone actually moves at all!!). In fact, I would go so far as to say, they all happily carry on about their business or even find other tasks to do, such as going on the computer, or starting a new game. So really, it should come as no surprise, that when, five minutes later I call “I hope everyone has cleaned their teeth, I need you to come down now and start getting your shoes on!” I find that actually, none of them have actually made it into the bathroom yet, let alone got any toothpaste deposited on toothbrushes. Why is it then, at the end of the ten minutes of nagging them to get ready and I shout up the stairs.... “Right! It REALLY is time to go now....come on!”....am I still surprised when they shout back..”But, we haven’t cleaned our teeth yet!” Honestly! What have they being doing? Does ‘we’ve got to go, we’re going to be late’ actually mean anything to them? Maybe I say it too much? I must have over used the ‘we’re going to be late’ threat. Perhaps it just washes over them as they merrily carry on doing just what they want.
The same goes for other appointments, such as going to the dentist the other day. I got everyone home from school and gave them all a snack to keep them going, I then got everyone to clean their teeth ready to get in the car to begin the half an hour drive to show the dentist their teeth! I then realise that Abbie is missing from the little gang all busily scrubbing their teeth in front of me. I find her sitting on her bed looking none too happy. When I try the “come on Abs, we’ve got to go,” approach, she informs me that she’s still hungry. I tell her that she can have more to eat when we get home, she’s had her snack to keep her going and we really do have to go to the dentist now. She then proceeds to go into complete 'melt-down' and she informs me in no uncertain terms that she will NOT be coming with us to the dentist and that she will be happy to go at another time – (has she not grasped the concept of an ‘appointment’??) I inform her that she will be coming with us to the dentist, we have been given an appointment time and this is when we have to go. By this time, all the others have their shoes on and are in the car, seatbelts on, ready for the off. Abbie however, is refusing point blank to get her shoes on and come with us. I then have to man-handle her into the bathroom, do a quick ‘it’ll have to do’ scrub around her teeth and wrestle her into the car (not an easy feat on big, stroppy, writhing, crying seven year old) throwing her crocs in after her! I strap her in and close the door with a sigh of relief; finally, we’re ready to go. I lock the front door; turn back to the car only to see Georgia has got back out to get something. It’s turning into comedy sketch, as soon as I get one child in and the door shut, another pops out from the other side! Fortunately we get underway on time and singing along to a CD in the car seems to calm everyone down. When we get to the dentist a happy Abbie proudly shows the dentist her teeth and is only too pleased to receive her sticker for being such a good girl!! Does she have any idea about the stress she put me through to get here? Never mind, we made it! Rant over! Bring on tomorrow!! xx
The same goes for other appointments, such as going to the dentist the other day. I got everyone home from school and gave them all a snack to keep them going, I then got everyone to clean their teeth ready to get in the car to begin the half an hour drive to show the dentist their teeth! I then realise that Abbie is missing from the little gang all busily scrubbing their teeth in front of me. I find her sitting on her bed looking none too happy. When I try the “come on Abs, we’ve got to go,” approach, she informs me that she’s still hungry. I tell her that she can have more to eat when we get home, she’s had her snack to keep her going and we really do have to go to the dentist now. She then proceeds to go into complete 'melt-down' and she informs me in no uncertain terms that she will NOT be coming with us to the dentist and that she will be happy to go at another time – (has she not grasped the concept of an ‘appointment’??) I inform her that she will be coming with us to the dentist, we have been given an appointment time and this is when we have to go. By this time, all the others have their shoes on and are in the car, seatbelts on, ready for the off. Abbie however, is refusing point blank to get her shoes on and come with us. I then have to man-handle her into the bathroom, do a quick ‘it’ll have to do’ scrub around her teeth and wrestle her into the car (not an easy feat on big, stroppy, writhing, crying seven year old) throwing her crocs in after her! I strap her in and close the door with a sigh of relief; finally, we’re ready to go. I lock the front door; turn back to the car only to see Georgia has got back out to get something. It’s turning into comedy sketch, as soon as I get one child in and the door shut, another pops out from the other side! Fortunately we get underway on time and singing along to a CD in the car seems to calm everyone down. When we get to the dentist a happy Abbie proudly shows the dentist her teeth and is only too pleased to receive her sticker for being such a good girl!! Does she have any idea about the stress she put me through to get here? Never mind, we made it! Rant over! Bring on tomorrow!! xx
