It's amazing how nice silence is. I separated the boys for their nap. It doesn't work often, but apparently today it will. They aren't asleep, they just aren't making any noise. Put Mikel in my bed, because he's the one that drags their mattresses around the room. Steven isn't quite strong enough to do it yet. With Steven in their room, he doesn't get as many ideas about messing around. Steven only needs something for his hands to hold on to to climb up something. He's figured out how to use his feet to go upwards without footholds on a smooth surface. He no longer needs a chair or stepstool for anything and usually doesn't bother. Mikel didn't figure that one out on his own, Steven taught him how. Amazing the 2yr thought of it before the 4yr old. Steven's more adventurous, and Mikel's scared of everything and everybody. They are polar opposites in many things. Until steven was born, Mikel hardly ever bothered to get into things. Even now, it's usually steven that leads the charge. Used to be I knew when they were getting into something because I could hear the chair being pulled into position. They rarely use them now.
Yesterday I found out I couldn't get rid of the kids all day saturday. It would have been better if he hadn't said anything. I need them out of my hair, and yesterday I said so rather forcefully. I explained in my louder, frustrated voice: you complain about the house not clean and laundry not done and yet you expect me to keep them out of things?!! He had the gall to ask me if our 13yr old nephew could watch them, because he watches the 8yr old nephew on saturdays. I said "hell, no". Not that I don't trust the kid. I know what my kids will do with half a chance. The 8yr nephew is rather rambunctious himself. Doesn't get into stuff and all that, but even when I watch him here, he's a little to rough with my kids and leads them on stuff they aren't supposed to do. Not that they can't do that all by themselves. I can see the 13yr old letting them play outside. Mikel will listen, but steven needs constant attention. He is a handful on his own. They'd be tearing stuff apart. Get into every cupboard. They would trash the bathroom. Being a young boy, the 13yr would probably let my kids go to the bathroom by themselves and wait for them to come out. It doesn't take mine 5 minutes to dump everything. I'm sure no matter where they are no one locks up their medicines where my kids can't get them. Mine have no trouble with any kind of child proof bottles or the capsule thingies. I know, we had an incident with mikel eating some sinus meds and opening a bottle of ibuprofen or whatnot. That was a while back. Without an adult around or just another hand for the nephew, I can't let him watch my kids and 8yr nephew. Like I said yesterday, they divide and conquer, it's an art. I'd let him watch mikel, just not mikel and steven. Mikel doesn't do much if not around steven or at someone else's house. My little hellions, hard to find someone who can handle them. Such is life. I wish the aunts were here. They would understand when I tell them this is what my kids generally do, this is what to watch for. For some reason kids generally don't listen to that advice. Just cuz you've watched tons of other people's kids doesn't mean you can handle mine.
So, nothing special about my birthday for another year. I'm used to it, it shouldn't bother me anymore. Oh well, I already got my mickey and that's what I wanted. Maybe I'll send hubby out with kids and tell him not to come back until after dark. I could use the extra hands for scrubbing the walls, but I can't have everything. Such is life. |