I just thought I would give ya'll a heads up so you can prepare.
My oldest daughter is supposed to go to a school dance this Friday. Well, today I informed her that she can NOT go. (this is half the reason the world is going to end).
She has not been doing any of the basic little chores she is supposed to do. I have either let it slide, given a gentle reminder to do it (which was ignored), or I have flat out warned her that if it didn't get done then she would not be attending the dance. She has done nothing.
Last night I asked her to put the towels in the dryer. She didn't do it. This morning I asked her again. Before she left for school I asked her if she remembered to put them in the dryer. She said, "Yes." So I just went to put a load of clothes in the washer and what did I find? The towels! So not only did she NOT do what I asked her to do, she flat out LIED to me.
So no school dance.
Now, because she won't be going to the dance, her boyfriend (which I think she is too young to have anyway) is going to hate her forever and be mad at her and probably break up with her. (this is the other half of the reason the world is going to end)
So now she is in there doing laundry. She has stripped her bed, AND her sister's bed AND her brother's bed. She has remade them with clean sheets, etc. She is busy in the kitchen making dinner. She is washing the dishes as she goes. She dried, folded and put away the towels. She cleaned the front bathroom. All of this she has done in a matter of 4 hours. So in 4 hours she has accomplished more than she has in the past 2 months combined.
I said no to the dance but now I feel guilty. I don't want to be the mean mom. Would it be bad to make her sweat until maybe Wednesday and then let her go to the dance anyway? I don't know what to do. I don't want to let her go after telling her she couldn't, but I do think I was angry and didn't think before I told her she couldn't go.
I wish kids came with handbooks.