Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Why I Don't Ground My Kids...

... simply put - grounding is too much work. Seriously... when/if I ground my kids it is like punishing me too. I mean, if they are on restriction *I* have to be the one to remember who's not allowed to do what for how long and with everything else going on... it's too much work. I am more of the, "Go to your room" or "I'm taking your [insert fav toy here] away until further notice" or the "knock it off" type of mom. I like these because they are practically self-managed.

I mean, I'm sort of a forgetful person, and the few times I told one of my kids they were grounded, I totally forgot about it the next day when the one went to use the phone, or play the xbox, etc. However, if I forget that I left them in their rooms, sitting on their beds to "think about what they've done"... well, then, usually they will remind me... ("Can I come out now???") or if I take away things like the controllers for their games, then I do not have to worry about who is restricted from what. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in restricting or taking away privileges if the "punishment fits the crime", but I try to make it so that it is immediate - not the "you're grounded for 2 weeks" thing. It works for me and it is self-managed; and I guess it helps that I have fairly good kids. The last thing I need is another chore...

Speaking of chores... here's a few others I hate.

Checks. If you need to pay me money, please do not give me a check. When you pay by check, you are now giving me a chore. Bleh... I hate going to the bank. Yes, I know there is a drive-thru and a midnight drop and even ATMs that accept deposits. But I don't know when I am gonna be able to make it over there. So, unless I get one of those electronic check scanner/deposit things in my house, Pu-Lease don't pay by check! lol!

Friendship Bread. Don't get me wrong. The stuff tastes good. But again - another chore. See, now I gotta knead the stupid bag x amount of times for x number of days. And sure, I'd keep up for a day or two... but next thing I know, I'd have a bag busting at the seams with a big dough bubble on my counter. (Yes, I speak from experience.) So, if you're really my friend... bake the bread BEFORE bringing it over! lol!

Questionable Gifts. "This sweater looks like something she **might** like... if not, she can just return it." WRONG! If in doubt, go without... or give a gift card. That's what I always say. Anyone who knows me knows how much I *despise* standing in line to return something. Bleh! I'd rather keep it and regift it. For Real. I have a pair of shoes, that I NEED to return. However, I lost the receipt (i think it got thrown out) and the lid to the shoe box has mysteriously went missing. And now it's been 3 weeks. Don't know if I can still return them... See, they didn't have 8 1/2s... and well, the 9's are just too big. Plus, they didn't end up matching the brown I needed them to match anyway. **sigh** anyone want a pair of brown heeled Mary-Janes?

Plants. Ah yes... Every Mother's Day I get a plant... something I have to TRANSplant. I do not have a green thumb; not even a white one... no. I have BLACK THUMBS! The gardeners thumb of Death! I kill everything. If they based our parenting skills on our plants, I would be forbidden any children. I did good for a while on the tomato plant (and it was ONE PLANT)... nonetheless, it eventually shriveled. The lettuce plant (the project from school) was so dry and brittle... yuck! I've even accidentally killed my fav Calla Lilies once. So please... Go Green with someone else.

Whenever I receive one of these "chores", this line from the movie Juno ALWAYS pops into my head... "Thanks a heap, Coyote Ugly. This cactus-gram stinks worse than your abandonment."

What about you? What "chores" do YOU hate? Do you ground YOUR kids?

11 comments:

Dianne said...

How can you ground your kids when they never go anywhere? It's my life...

Denise @ Sunflowers, Chocolate and Little Boys said...

You are so funny. But I have to admit that I have forgotten about a punishment or two (or three)

Era said...

No I don't ground them, they hardly go anywhere anyway. I'm totally with you, if it makes more work for me it's not a good punishment. And as for that Friendship Bread - oh my! It keeps multiplying as you have to divide it into portions. Just how many friends does it think I have. Or how many friends does it think I can put through that ritual?

Alice in Wonderland said...

I've got no kids to ground! But I am pretty good with plants! (I've not got green fingers either!) I don't believe in letting you kids grow up scared of you though!
Thank you for writing on my friend Christie's site! You have done her the world of good and said exactly what I said that she should do. She has been through so much, and she deserve a bit of a helping hand at times!
Big hugs!

Ashley said...

Not sure my policy on grounding but I like yours so I am definitely taking notes. Haha!

P.S. I hate checks, too.

Rhonda said...

Me: hate checks, don't ground much-rather make the kid my slave for the afternoon/evening or both depending on the crime, only grow things that someone else plants and starts for me so all I have to do is water cuz I have some great watering skills, would prefer the gift card, and don't return anything. Hubby actually makes friends with those at the return counter at best buy and verizon becuase he's there so much. In fact last night at verizon where he was returning my phone he bumped into Best Buy return girl. She gave him a heads up on an opening over there so Desi can apply. lol

Susie said...

I am with you on the grounding. I just send them to their room.

Ruthykins said...

i don't mind getting a check. just don't give me a check if it's gonna bounce. seriously.

my kids are too young to be grounded, so i don't know if i'll go that route or not, yet.

Puphigirl said...

I've grounded my kids, and the threat of an impending grounding usually helps to motivate for the desired behavior I want. But, I agree, it is just more work for me. I too have sent a child to their room using the "you can come out when you are ready (to be nice, stop hitting, whatever") and have forgotten that child. Sometimes they ask if they can come out, sometimes they fall asleep and are a nicer kid after their rest.

Catherine said...

The problem for me comes when my husband doles out a punishment then leaves off to work. I'm left to follow through on a punishment I may or may not agree with. Ugh!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I ground my kids...but the chores I don't like I already gave as their every day chore.

I did have a year's streak with one of my kids (won't mention which) where it was all I could do to send them to their room. And yes, sometimes I actually "forgot" to call them back out again.