Why don't my children listen to me?
When Christopher came home last night, I was happy to see him, because I didn't really feel like waiting up for him any longer. I didn't really feel like sharing a pizza with him at two in the morning either, but before I went to bed, when I saw him looking very much like his father getting very comfortable on the couch, I told him to be careful not to go to sleep and let the pizza burn. He said he heard me, but did he actually listen to me?
Of course not.
This morning I woke up hearing the phone ring, but even though I couldn't be bothered to get up and answer it, I couldn't go back to sleep then because somehow there seemed to be a funny smell. When I gave up and got out of bed and went into the kitchen, I realized that we had been lucky not to have to wake up to the arrival of the fire department before dawn. Even though Christopher had left the windows and the balcony door open, the burnt smell was still very strong, but it was also very cold. Did I not tell my beloved elder son not to fall asleep in front of the television and let the pizza burn?
Next unpleasant surprise: no coffee. Exactly one coffee bean left in the tin. Have I not told my beloved elder son over and over and over again that he must tell me when we start running out of coffee?
Since we only buy Fair Trade coffee from a nearby health food shop that keeps sensible and humane opening hours (i.e. they close for lunch for several hours during the week and close for the weekend at noon on Saturdays), I had no time for a shower, I had to get dressed and run to get coffee before they closed. Since I was out, I decided to be nice and go to the supermarket as well for more frozen pizza and milk and bread for the weekend. And cookies. And a few more cups of yoghurt. And a little more chocolate.... But when I ended up with more than I could easily carry by myself, my sons did not come to my rescue.
When I finally got home, it did not take them long to figure out that I was quite justifiably not in a good mood, so they quickly went to work to try to mollify me. I have to admit, my sons are clearly well acquainted with my moods, so they did that well.
Now if they would just listen to me ...
Of course not.
This morning I woke up hearing the phone ring, but even though I couldn't be bothered to get up and answer it, I couldn't go back to sleep then because somehow there seemed to be a funny smell. When I gave up and got out of bed and went into the kitchen, I realized that we had been lucky not to have to wake up to the arrival of the fire department before dawn. Even though Christopher had left the windows and the balcony door open, the burnt smell was still very strong, but it was also very cold. Did I not tell my beloved elder son not to fall asleep in front of the television and let the pizza burn?
Next unpleasant surprise: no coffee. Exactly one coffee bean left in the tin. Have I not told my beloved elder son over and over and over again that he must tell me when we start running out of coffee?
Since we only buy Fair Trade coffee from a nearby health food shop that keeps sensible and humane opening hours (i.e. they close for lunch for several hours during the week and close for the weekend at noon on Saturdays), I had no time for a shower, I had to get dressed and run to get coffee before they closed. Since I was out, I decided to be nice and go to the supermarket as well for more frozen pizza and milk and bread for the weekend. And cookies. And a few more cups of yoghurt. And a little more chocolate.... But when I ended up with more than I could easily carry by myself, my sons did not come to my rescue.
When I finally got home, it did not take them long to figure out that I was quite justifiably not in a good mood, so they quickly went to work to try to mollify me. I have to admit, my sons are clearly well acquainted with my moods, so they did that well.
Now if they would just listen to me ...
posted by Aileen at Saturday, December 16, 2006
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