Contemplating Sentencing

Here we are, midway through the summer, and my two little "darlings" have had a great vacation so far, if I do say so myself. They are swimming, they are camping, they are getting treats at the Gas 'N Sip with me almost daily, they have been out to lunch more times than I care to mention, they play with friends, they play at the pool, their chore charts have been light, and I have pretty much let them do what they like once the things I need them to do are completed.

Well, the bubble burst yesterday.

I had a full morning of PTA audits in Lindon. [These are the year-end, turn-in-your-reports, trade-books-with-the-incoming-folks, wash-your-hands-of-this-mess kind of thing.] We help them file the required IRS 990 form to show they really are a non-profit organization. It is tedious and necessary, and certainly not my favorite part of this gig.

By the time we were done, it was then almost 1 PM. My head was ready to explode. I drove home, expecting my little dears to comfort me and make me feel happy I chose only two children in my life. What crazy stuff was IN that mug, really?!

Instead, I found a basket full of wet laundry in the bathroom, and grunting and huffing-like-trolls children who had spent their morning growling at each other about who got to watch what on TV while they did NOT finish the jobs I had left them. When The Girl left to go with her YW group to hike for their activity today, The Boy took over and figured since she didn't finish her stuff, he didn't have to do his.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my life this week? I didn't think so.

Today is not going to be better, I am afraid. I have Day Two of Audits--hopefully not from hell--today, then I spend the afternoon with Dear Friend Tammy, where I get intensely agitated that her girls have not stepped up to help their own mother and family during this ALS-induced upheaval.

I'm thinking if the demeanor of my two isn't much improved by an hour and a half of swim practice today, I will be bringing them to Tammy's and making them do some housekeeping chores there, where I can supervise, and where they will be watched by Tammy's girls--who I know will not lift a finger to help out. That might be a good opportunity to "adjust" their attitudes.

I might just be back in the running for Meanest Mother of the World again! Yesssss.