Crazy Mom

The boys had no school today. They also have no school tomorrow. All due to Jewish Holidays. Could they make it easier for us and give a us Thursday and Friday off so their is a long weekend? kind of like a Thanksgiving weekend. Or the Christmas week. Really, it would make things a lot easier.

So this is how mom lost it. Last night little son had friends come over after football practice. No big deal. In all honesty, he really doesn't invite friends over to much. I think it is because he likes being with big son's friends. Big Son and his friends always include him in everything and look out for him. Anyway, little son and his friends wanted to go to a lcoal fitness club to play basketball and then tennis. Fine. I worked out for about 45 minutes and then told them I would be back in an hour. I was going to go home and get dinner ready for them. Drove back, picked them up. They ate and then Husband and I and Big Son went outside with them (8:00 pm) and played Man Hunt with them.

Fast forward to this morning. By 1:00 the friends were gone and then the onslaught from my boys started. They wanted hair cuts (sorry sis), they wanted to go to the gym, they wanted to go on a hike. We did it all. Then disaster. I told the boys they had to clean their rooms, and also little son had to clean the basement. ( The rule is, when the boys have friends sleep over, they have to clean the area up). Temper tantrums. Yes, Teenagers do have temper tantrums. The difference from when they are 2 or 3 is that they can talk better and know more words. I gave my own temper tantrum back. Asked them how they thought I felt having other people's children at my house or the last 4 days. Cooking for those kids non stop. Cleaning non stop. Doing 15 loads of laundry in 3 days!! Yes, 15 loads. Plus, on top of all that, cleaning, packing and organizing the motorhome and trailer for their race this weekend. I lost it.

I feel so bad when I yell at the boys. Usually, it is my own fraustration. I don't think that mothers who work realize that there is the same amount of stress for us mothers how chose to be with our children. For me, if I worked, would loose so much of what being a mother means to me. In the am, I would be getting ready or work, and also getting the boys to the bus. If I worked, I would not be able to go to their football games or races. I wouldn't know their friends as well as I do. I wouldn't know what they were doing ater school or practice. Instead of talking to the boys when they get home from practice, if I worked, I would be cooking, doing laudry, etc. I try very hard to make the boys realize that I will do ANYTHING for them as long as they do the basic "chores" that I ask from them. Usually the understand and have no problem.

Today the problem was that it was their first "break" from school with no practice, no homework. I took my overwhelmed schedule out on them and yelled because I felt they weren't doing enough to help me. When I finally calmed down and talked to them, they told me they were upset because they said it seemed like I didn't want to do anything with them except have them to chores. Big Son said to me "mom, I go to practice come home at 6:00, do homework every day. Today was a free day and you wanted more." It made me feel bad. Although I do alot with them, when they have a free day off during the week, I need to concentrate more on them. Let them make a mess. Let them watch movies and play games. As long as they are doing the set chores of the week, I shouldn't blow up.

Sorry boys. I yelled to much today and expected to much from you.