One of Those Days

You know those days when everything is just difficult? The kids are disobedient and disrespectful, when you ask them to do something, they whine, "I can't," or just flat out refuse. You don't feel like you can get anything done. A million people are asking you to do something, you can't even get a minute to breathe. By the time dinner is done, you're so exhausted you can't even think of doing anything else and you just want to send the kids to bed, but of course they refuse again so you take what little energy you have to wrestle their pajamas on them and shove a toothbrush in their mouth, drag them to their beds, all the while feeling like running to your room to hide in a closet until they stop calling for you and fighting with each other. You know those days?

Today was not one of those days.

Nichole was very good about doing her homework after school. Jr. helped with dinner and cleaning and setting the table, as well as playing a game with Nichole that was part of her homework. Both kids ate dinner without complaining (much). Both kids cleaned up their dishes, Jr. helped with Jeremy's and mine. I had energy after dinner, thanks to the kids, so Nichole and Jr. Jr. played in the living room while Jr. and I started making brownies. After a while Nichole and Jr. Jr. joined us, Jr. Jr. hanging out in his high chair/booster seat while Nichole finished her homework and Jr. and I finished making brownies.

I'll admit the kids did get a little too silly while we tried to do scripture study and eat brownies at the same time. We had to cut it short, but we still did some and consistency is important. I just had to remind myself they're little kids, they have energy (and sugar), they had been very helpful so far, and they just needed time to be silly and have fun.

I gave them time to run around after scripture study then they did pretty well getting ready for bed. They still had energy and were being silly when it was time to get them settled down for sleeping, but I had a good attitude about it and that made a difference. Nobody went to sleep in tears and that is something to be grateful for.
The kids were very helpful this afternoon/evening and I chose to enjoy their silliness later on instead of being annoyed and frustrated by it.
It was a good family afternoon/evening (even though Jeremy was at work for most of it- though he did take care of the baby while I was making dinner and Nichole and Jr. were doing Nichole's homework).

P.S. Jr. Jr. tried to be really helpful at one point. Right after I finished unloading the dryer, he grabbed some clothes from the dirty clothes basket and started putting them in the dryer. Tee Hee. I love my kids.