The New Rules

Remember how I said a few weeks ago that my boys have been fighting? And that my patience was weaning? And o my goodness if we keep arguing over who gets to sit in the black chair (which we have 6 of the exact same ones) I am going to LOSEMYMIND? 

Yea, it hasn't gotten much better. 

We don't have a ton of friends in our area with children, particularly as old as Cullen, so I honestly think they are just a little sick of each other (and me) and it has resulted in some tension filled moments around the house.

So the other day, I remembered back to the tough days of 2012 and decided it was time to update our family rules. I sat both boys down and we talked about why it is important to get along so Mommy doesn't yell because it is in the right thing to do, and asked them to come up with the 10 best rules for our house. 

Here is what they dictated:

1. Obviously, was pleased that "have patience" was as the top of the list- now if only they would practice it (like waiting 20 more years to break into the beer).

2.  Another favorite since Cullen's new favorite activity is lifting up Wells and putting him down somewhere else....which Wells hates. 

3.  For Bennett: we have been limiting his paci use (since the Dentist judged me) and now he sporadically bites his brothers when he is playing. Is that a thing? Or just a weird phase? Anyone? Bueller? 

4. Does anyone else's kids get extremely hungry while you are clearly busy? Because mine do. Usually during the 20 minutes a day that I get to talk to their father, roughly an hour after they have just eaten a man-sized lunch. 

5. Example of silly things not to cry over: Putting your shoes on the correct feet, or putting on two of the same shoes.

6. Okay so they called me out on this one. Our house backs up to a horse farm and that horse farm sends a lot of flies into our kitchen. They are gross and I don't like them so I tend to get a little violent with the fly swatter. Whoops. 

7. Frankie barks a lot. At people, at other dogs, at the wind, at the sun...he needs a rule too apparently.

8. Basic. (Will never be followed.)

9. Pretty large blanket statement here, but I'll take it.

10. One of the biggest lessons I think my boys can learn: Just BE KIND and you will do good. 

In case you missed the 2012 Rules- here is a refresher (original post HERE):

They still hang in the playroom because no one wants to forget to not get hit by volcano fire (and that 2 years later, Mommy is still obviously the mean parent).  

But in the meantime, we are working on it bit by bit and when they do throw a fit about who gets to jump from the couch to the ottoman first (no one), we can point to the rules and I can remind them that they were the ones who decided they were important. Hopefully within this, we will be teaching ownership and responsibility along with better manners (and patience all around).