Rules Are Meant To Be Broken
Early of the year when the kids goes back to school after their final term holidays, I set out some rules for them. I know it required lots of discipline and has to be very stern to make sure it work:
- Back from school, no TV
- Take a shower before dinner
- No eating dinner in front of the TV
- Homework by 8pm
- light bulbs off at 10pm
- Wash your own school shoes on Saturday
And how do I fair? Bear in mind that I have a very obedient 9 years old girl and a mischievous 7 years old boy.
Rules no. 1 – The first thing when they (usually no.1) stepped in to the house, I gotta put on my loud speaker, “NO TV!” – Yay, it works!
Rules no. 2 – Failed. Cos the kids took such a long time (usually no.2) in the shower. Too much time was wasted.
Rules no. 3 – Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I’m too soft hearted 🙁
Rules no. 4 – Successful!
Rules no. 5 – Unfinished (usually no. 2) homework to be continue the next day at the daycare.
Rules no. 6. Up till today, they only wash twice. The rest of the time was Mummy, Mummy, Mummy!!!! That too, I am soft hearted. Double whammer! Not that Mummy hand wash their school shoes. The washing machine takes care of the job. But one thing I make them do is to apply the shoe white before putting them under the sun. Kids just simply love that chore very much.
Since some of the rules did not work out for me, I tried the other way i.e.
7pm – Reached home. Had dinner. Sometimes at the dining table, sometimes on the couch. I gave up on that, really. Watched a little cartoon on TV.
8pm – No. 1 will shower first while no. 2 still hook on TV. Then no. 2 turn to shower while no.1 continue TV.
8.30pm – Homework.
10pm – Off to bed.
Not the way I’ve planned out initially but this way, everyone is happy and I don’t get too stress up yelling at kids to do this and do that.
Bento Pet said,
February 11, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
Good for you! Sometimes wield with strict methods and sometimes with gentle methods! Sounds reasonable.
a-moms-diary said,
February 11, 2009 @ 6:58 pm
Wah, can dump the school shoes into the washing machine kah? I didn’t know that. You can get your kids to lights off at 10pm? So good one…we’ve been trying to get YY to sleep at 10.30pm and that also such a big struggle.
day-dreamer said,
February 11, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
Wow, that’s almost like how my mum treats her other 2 daughters, except for a few! Hahaha!
And omg, school shoes by washing machine? Won’t spoil?
cindy said,
February 11, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
nice and disciplined… just like what my mum always set loads of rules for us sisters to follow especially the doing homework and no TV part…
have to thank my mum for that… its because of her strict no-nonsense rules, i have come this far…
thanks for sharing your experience with us…
jonzz said,
February 12, 2009 @ 1:17 am
Batman seems to be more suitable for black shoe polish, HA HA HA
jacss said,
February 12, 2009 @ 10:40 am
emm….no TV is really a hard to enforce rule ehh…esp when i’m so addicted to AOD!!
2 hrs homework time sounds reasonable but afraid it might not be enuf when lessons become more complicated hor !!!
ohh no…didn’t know washing m/c can wash shoes, haha
i’ve yet to get the boys to do any hse chores…coz got kakak ma…surely they will become one of those chauvinist irritating man to the opp. gender, LOL!!
sob sob…girl really makes different !!!!
siechoo said,
February 12, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Misha’s school shoes are wash by the washing machine too 🙂
whoisbaby said,
February 12, 2009 @ 11:46 am
rules are good. i like to have them even for myself so i will be more organize and able to accomplish more tasks.
giddy tigress said,
February 12, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
You use the washing machine to wash the shoes? Not dirty meh?
Jesslyn said,
February 12, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Yeah, i also use washing machine to wash shoe…but no spinning la!
Giddy Tigress: soak the shoe over night first!
the Razzler said,
February 14, 2009 @ 8:36 am
Queen…
I guess that’s why a Mummy’s undying love & sacrifices… it takes a lifetime to truly appreciate!! All the little things that she does… every bit with tons of TLC!! 🙂
chinnee said,
February 14, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
at least can finish homework if go to daycare. i cannot imagine how i m gonna manage my kids when they stay at home with me in future.
huisia said,
February 15, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
wow,the shoe white so nice..i mean the cartoon!
i always let jo finishes his dinner in front of the tv, be frankly, he can eat faster with tv on. i am definitely a failure mama.
jasmine said,
February 17, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
guess it will take a while before the kids abide to all the rules. good luck!!!
chumpman said,
February 18, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
Hi
My 1st visit here.
Compromise is always a must disregard the age and discipline is needed to all too. A friend of mine throws slippers into washing machine but school shoes ?
wen said,
February 18, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
didnt know got such fancy shoe white. where u got it from? i wanna train my son next yr
The Queen says: The shoe white comes for free when I buy Son’s school shoes in Jusco.
Samantha said,
February 18, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
The food looked so fantastic..bravo .. 🙂 yummy and healthy