Need to love children sometimes... when everything else seems to be going awry they can keep you laughing. The GBs have started the fight on another front to live with Nama, apparently both of them decided to break into tears and tell their mother how much they missed me, and needed to see me (I saw them yesterday, not even 24 hours before their breakdown with mommy. We went out to dinner with the kids and my mother.) My DSD was apparently beside herself to console them over missing Nama, not realizing they were with me yesterday. Big crocodile tears and all, and she was worried right up until she promised they could see me soon and the GS perked right up and asked if they could live with me too?!

"What?!" Was the DSD response and the kids both told her that they wanted to live with Nama, but they'd still visit her. That made my day even when she called up with all of a mother's fury behind her wanting to know if I said her kids could live with me. Told her I didn't, and laughed, heartily over her predicament. Little scamps. But their mom isn't too happy with me right now over it, and I still just think it's too funny.

Because of course I told her to ask the kids why they want to live with Nama (I don't give them cookies, candy or ice cream unlike mommy) and she was rewarded with being told as I heard in the backround... "Nama has rules to keep us safe... Why don't you have rules mommy??? Nama also always has lots of good food, she wants us to grow up big and strong... Candy is okay mommy but it should only be a special treat, don't you know that mommy??? Nama also keeps our clothes nice and clean and makes sure we pick up our room so we don't lose our toys or break them, I guess we could do that here but when should we pick up our rooms mommy??? Nama also makes sure we have quiet time so we can give our heads a rest and make us really smart... Why don't we do that here mommy???"

I could barely contain my laughter at the GS speech over why Nama's house was better than with mommy. Especially since as she was hanging up on me I heard the all too funny poop statement from him but didn't get to hear if he questioned her as to why he doesn't poop easier with mommy. Now I swear, I have never once told the kids to question their mommy, have never discussed her parenting practice or lack thereof in front of the kids. I have only explained to them that I have rules to keep them safe, that no they can't eat candy allll the time they need real food to grow up big and strong, that quiet time is to rest their 'minds' he took it as head to help them get really smart, and when I tell them to clean up their toys, I tell them it's so they don't lose their toys or break them. I basically don't tell the kids to do anything or cease to do something without telling them the whys and wherefores.

So you can imagine how hard it was for me to keep my laughter to myself listening to the lisping innocent questions posed by a 4 year old to his mother, especially when you would think they would want to be with mommy more since she doesn't have much of anything for rules, gives the kids tons of junk food and pretty much anything goes, versus Nama's house where there are rules, and the rules will be followed or punishments will ensue. You don't get candy and junk food except for very rare occasions, you don't get to leave your room a mess or leave any place a mess in Nama's house. We clean up after ourselves here, even after eating the kids are expected to scrap their own plates into the trash and put them into the sink. Seems reasonable to me that a 3 and a 4 year old should be able to handle that. (granted sometimes food sticks and I have to rescrape them, I never have the kids come out and do it or anything, just so long as they get the basic behavior down...)

Aw well the DSD has a ways to go to learning the art of parenting, and what kids actually want from their parents. It's not all cakes and cookies and tons of toys. They want attention, and believe it or not, they want rules... Not randomly thrown out rules, but rules they can understand, and they want to know why those are the rules. The longer she denies them that, the longer she has to put up with the kids begging to move in with Nama