[email protected]

In a message dated 11/1/2002 1:06:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
> I don't think any kid can and will spontaneously clean a bedroom or
> living room that looks like a bomb went off in it. I think it takes
> years of teaching, modeling, and most importantly cleaning it up with
> them before they are able to do much useful cleaning by themselves.
> (And even then, I can't promise you that they will want to clean.)


Cameron, at 12 (now almost 15), suddenly decided that he LIKES a clean room.
The only thing he DOESN'T like to do is vacuum, so the floor is littered with
tiny pieces of crap (I'm happy to vacuum.). Otherwise his room is downright
CLEAN. He didn't get that from me. <g> He also will clean the kitchen/do
laundry on mornings I'm not home.

I never asked him to clean by himself as a child. We would work together or I
would do it while he was in school. He LOVED to come home to a clean room and
always thanked me profusely.

Duncan, at six, gets the same breaks Cam got at that age. I pretty much do
everything, or we work together. With any luck, he'll eventually like things
relatively clean too.

Cameron went through a time at 11 or 12 (he was still in school) when he got
angry about ANYTHING I asked him to do and would whine/shout, "WHY???" "Do I
HAVE to?" I always said, "NO, you don't HAVE to do ANYthing. But I have that
same right of refusal." It was not a threat: I have never refused to do
anything for him if I was able, but he started to realize that I had the
ability to be JUST as disagreeable. It didn't last long. He's really a sweet
and agreeable child---I blame the stress of school for those brief episodes.

I still can't get him or my husband to turn their socks right-side-out
though! Yech!

~Kelly


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Betsy

**I still can't get him or my husband to turn their socks right-side-out
though! Yech!**

They can be washed and put back into the drawer inside out. You don't
have to match them, either.

Betsy

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/1/02 1:52:27 PM, ecsamhill@... writes:

<< They can be washed and put back into the drawer inside out. You don't
have to match them, either. >>

I'd rather turn them after they're clean.

Shyrley

On 1 Nov 02, at 12:53, Betsy wrote:

> **I still can't get him or my husband to turn their socks
> right-side-out though! Yech!**
>
> They can be washed and put back into the drawer inside out. You don't
> have to match them, either.
>
> Betsy
>
Yeah, I stopped matching socks years ago except mine. I just
chuck 'em in the drawers.
Mind you, I'm tired of my kids putting their dirty clothes back in the
drawers cos its closer than the laundry basket (by a whole 2 feet).
When they turn into stinky teens it will be a problem.

Shyrley


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

Tia Leschke

> Yeah, I stopped matching socks years ago except mine. I just
> chuck 'em in the drawers.
> Mind you, I'm tired of my kids putting their dirty clothes back in the
> drawers cos its closer than the laundry basket (by a whole 2 feet).
> When they turn into stinky teens it will be a problem.

I had the opposite problem, clean clothes finding their way back into the
laundry basket. That's how they all earned the right to do their own
laundry.
Tia

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/1/02 10:18:18 PM, leschke@... writes:

<< That's how they all earned the right to do their own
laundry. >>

When I did that, Zoe wore stinky clothes all the time!

Paula

Shyrley

On 1 Nov 02, at 19:37, Tia Leschke wrote:

> > Yeah, I stopped matching socks years ago except mine. I just
> > chuck 'em in the drawers.
> > Mind you, I'm tired of my kids putting their dirty clothes back in
> > the drawers cos its closer than the laundry basket (by a whole 2
> > feet). When they turn into stinky teens it will be a problem.
>
> I had the opposite problem, clean clothes finding their way back into
> the laundry basket. That's how they all earned the right to do their
> own laundry. Tia
>
We get that too. I stick a pile of clean laundry on their beds, they
tip it onto the floor anda few days later they chuck it in the basket
cos its easier than folding it and putting it away. Heck, they don't
even have to fold it. It's not like I actually iron anything!
Every 2 or 3 weeks this whole messy thing really gets on my tits
and I explode then they *help* for a day or two. I think watching me
foam at the mouth and becoming incoherant with fustration has a
sobering sort of effect ;-)
Then its back to normal.

This is really gonna bother me in the spring when we put our house
on the market cos people wil be coming round to see it. Here in
Stepford everybody elses houses are immaculate with matching
stuff. My furniture is battered and not matching so I need the house
tidy to at least make a good impression.
Sigh.

Shyrleythe exile

Watching Harry Potter always makes me homesick. How do other
exiles cope?


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

Kate Green

>
> Shyrleythe exile
>
> Watching Harry Potter always makes me homesick. How do other
> exiles cope?
>

Me too. Especially the train as we used to go on that frequently (it's thru
the dales from Pickering up to Goathland). At Christmas they have Father
Christmas on board and sherry and mince pies. Sigh...
I did make my Christmas cake yesterday and will make my puddings next
weekend though. They should be good and boozy in 2 months:)

Kate



>
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>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
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Shyrley

On 2 Nov 02, at 21:11, Kate Green wrote:

> >
> > Shyrleythe exile
> >
> > Watching Harry Potter always makes me homesick. How do other
> > exiles cope?
> >
>
> Me too. Especially the train as we used to go on that frequently (it's
> thru the dales from Pickering up to Goathland). At Christmas they have
> Father Christmas on board and sherry and mince pies. Sigh... I did
> make my Christmas cake yesterday and will make my puddings next
> weekend though. They should be good and boozy in 2 months:)
>
> Kate
>
The UAE must be even more different from the UK than Virginia
is!!! My brother lives in Dubai but he loves it and never wants to go
back to Britian. He's planning on a move to Canada in 3 years.

I think part of homesickness comes from an inability to go home.
We went last xmas but can't afford to go this year at all :-(

Must start my xmas pud too. I went to get brandy at the liquor
store the other day but they wouldn't let me cos I didn't have my ID
with me!!! Apparently looking 34 and having 3 kids didn't prove I
was over 21. Grrrrrrrrrr

When we leave the US in 2 years time there are things I will miss
like fireflies and the garbage disposal unit. Plus all my American
friends but I am so looking forward to getting back and hearing Brit
accents again.
We've been here 18 months and so far the kids have kept their
accents but I don't know what another two years will do too them.
(It's not that I dislike American accents its just that they ain't
ours....)
Unschoolers are also thicker on the ground than here where most
people do school-at-home. The word 'curricula' is beginning to
make me rant ;-)

Shyrley


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/2/02 12:05:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,
shyrley.williams@... writes:


> this whole messy thing really gets on my tits
>

This is a most excellent expression.
Elissa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shyrley

On 2 Nov 02, at 16:13, Earthmomma67@... wrote:

> In a message dated 11/2/02 12:05:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> shyrley.williams@... writes:
>
>
> > this whole messy thing really gets on my tits
> >
>
> This is a most excellent expression.
> Elissa
>
Glad you like it. I got more.
You coming over on Wednesday?

Shyrley


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

[email protected]

Yes, did you send me your address?
Elissa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

moe

where are you guys that you get to hang out together? I want to come over. I am in Berryville. Mary


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

I live just outside DC in Bethesda.
Elissa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kate Green

A
>>
> The UAE must be even more different from the UK than Virginia
> is!!! My brother lives in Dubai but he loves it and never wants to go
> back to Britian. He's planning on a move to Canada in 3 years.

Yes and no. We have British stores so full access to UK clothes and food
(Marks and Sparks, BHS, Early Learning Center, Adams ....) and of course
tons of expats so you get lots of Brit talk! We have even have the British
Club we could join if so inclined -- a place to sip gin and tonics served
by Indians while bitching about the damn locals (very colonial:)
But of course we have white beaches, turquoise ocean, and blue skies which
quickly reminds you that it's not England!

>
> I think part of homesickness comes from an inability to go home.
> We went last xmas but can't afford to go this year at all :-(

Holidays are always hard no matter where you call home. I have no one left
in the UK I'd want to go back to for xmas so now I pine for my mom's house
in California. Home is where the family is really (although it's always
nice to be able to get your favorite chocs and proper crackers).
>
> Must start my xmas pud too. I went to get brandy at the liquor
> store the other day but they wouldn't let me cos I didn't have my ID
> with me!!! Apparently looking 34 and having 3 kids didn't prove I
> was over 21. Grrrrrrrrrr

Well that's at least a compliment. I remember NOT getting carded when I was
about 30 and getting totally pissed off!!

Kate



>
> When we leave the US in 2 years time there are things I will miss
> like fireflies and the garbage disposal unit. Plus all my American
> friends but I am so looking forward to getting back and hearing Brit
> accents again.
> We've been here 18 months and so far the kids have kept their
> accents but I don't know what another two years will do too them.
> (It's not that I dislike American accents its just that they ain't
> ours....)
> Unschoolers are also thicker on the ground than here where most
> people do school-at-home. The word 'curricula' is beginning to
> make me rant ;-)
>
> Shyrley
>
>
>""
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.