'Want to know what happens when you announce that, effective immediately, children will be charged $1 for items left laying around/not put in their proper places? See above photo.
And this one...
My kids are usually pretty good about keeping things organized. But with the arrival of winter, I've been battling a backdoor pile-up of shoes, jackets, hats, backpacks...SNOWBOARD BOOTS (you know who you are).
First I tried gentle reminders..."I see shoes by the door..."; then came, "seriously? your backpack is on the floor? and your basketball bag? and your history book? SERIOUSLY?"
Then Mean Mom came out and, with a smile, calmly announced the $1 fine. Per item. Per day. Hutton glared at me and muttered something like..."why can't she just be a normal mother?!"
Apparently, insisting that people pick up after themselves is cruel and unusual. (I've also heard that Normal Mothers buy Cheetos and PopTarts all the time. Oh, and Cocoa Puffs).
Hutton's reaction to the Dreaded Dollar Fine was hilarious so sad. But I've held firm and, guess what? People are mostly putting their stuff away again. Peace has been restored.
Hutton is still looking for a normal mother. Poor little Indian brave.
(i have no idea why he's wearing that headband)