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Queen of Nags

Mommy needed her serfs to self-govern.

By Kelly Curtis


Wow. I think I tried some forms of this when my kids were small but I didn't have the "stick-to-it-ive-ness." So often it was just easier to do it myself.

The humerous part is that I hear the same gripes from my daughters about their households. "If you would just hang up the towel, and not lay it on your bed where it leaves a wet spot!!!" τΏτ

Posted by: Pamela | Sep 21, 2006 10:37


Kelly: this morning, I was thinking of you and talking about your daughter having left something behind that she needed for school. Then I read this ... and it reminded me of the struggle I had with looking at the picture day envelope, all ready to go, still sitting on the kitchen table this morning. The one I had told my DD to put in her backpack. Three times. And three times, she didn't listen to me.

I think I will have to employ some of your technique. And it will take a lot for me to hold my tongue.

Posted by: meredith | Sep 21, 2006 13:59


Strangely enough my husband would love to read this post. Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to walls when I ask my kids to pick up their rooms, or put something back where it belongs. We've tried the taking money away before, but we weren't very consistent with keeping up with it. I'll definetly make myself more clear and keep my word the next time!!
Thanks Kelly!

Posted by: Christine | Sep 21, 2006 14:07


Thank you all for commenting. Parenting's a trip, isn't it?

Posted by: Pass the Torch | Sep 21, 2006 14:21


Way to go, Kelly, both for the transformation in your home and the fabulous article describing it!! Thank you so much for sending me the link to this!

Carol Gordon

Posted by: Paul Gordon | Sep 21, 2006 14:28


Great story,Kelly - I particularly liked your daughters enterprising addition of adding "bad words" to the no-no's!

Posted by: Susan Stephenson | Sep 21, 2006 17:19


Thank you for this article, I loved it. It was very enlightening and to the point. I am thrilled to have clear steps to change and improve as I am also a nag.

Posted by: Sarah | Sep 22, 2006 12:46


What a fantastic idea. I'll have to try this myself.

Posted by: chilihead | Sep 22, 2006 14:27


LOVE it Kelly! It's amazing how much small changes at the hinge bear significant results at the end of the swaying gate!! Bravo and thanks for sharing!

Hugs,
Holly

Posted by: Holly Schwendiman | Sep 22, 2006 18:46


Oh, did i ever need to hear that! I am sometimes intimidated by you because you seem to have this parenting thing down so well. It's nice to know that you still have problems too. Not that I want you to have problems, of course!

I'm ashamed to admit this, but my nagging often turns into yelling. It's not that I'm yelling because I'm angry so much as I feel like I need to yell to be heard. I know it's because they tune me out, just like you were talking about.

You have inspired me to have my own special month. Mine will be a yelling-free month. I need to find other, more productive ways of communicating with my children. I think I'm going to post about this in a couple of days, after I've had time to think it over a little more.

Thanks for the challenge!

Posted by: Tonya | Sep 25, 2006 16:27


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