IP Web
HOME | COLUMNISTS | PARENTING | POLITICS/SOCIETY | HUMOR | LIFESTYLE | RESOURCES | COMMUNITY | BLOG | RECALLS | NEWS | STORE

Read comments for:

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

Leave a comment:

Comments are moderated and not posted immediately in an effort to remove commercial messages, irrelevancies, excessive foul language and/or personal attacks and will be edited/deleted at our discretion. Thank you for your patience.
*Name:
*Email:
URL:
*Comments: Word limit 1000 words. HTML tags are not allowed.
*Please enter the 2 words (this helps us reduce spam):
  
Sign up for Imperfect Parent News
Vote for IP Blogger of the month:
Navel Gazing at its Finest
Sassy Molassy
Diary of a Mad, Mad Housewife
The More, The Messier
Popular This Month
Mominatrix
Mommy Mammaries
Rugrat Reprieve
Threesome: Why Mommy and Daddy Need a Special Helper
Ask the Angry Baby
Cursing habits, sippy cups, co-sleeping sex, international travel, and saying "no"
Mominatrix
Mominatrix Salutes the Good Ol' USA
Silence is Not an Option
Why do drug addicted parents retain custody of their children?
Our supporters:

Add this button to your own blog or website!

         

Imperfect Parent Features
MINOR TOPICS
News and discussion with a parenting bent.
THE IMPERFECT BLOG
Ramblings and wacky news.
MOMINATRIX RADIO
This live call in show takes a frank look at sexuality from a parent perspective.
"Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault." -- Dr. David M. Burns

Home | Parenting | Politics/Social Issues | Humor | Lifestyle | Resources | Community | Blog | Store

About The Imperfect Parent | Submission Guidelines | Press | Contact Us | Advertise on The Imperfect Parent | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
All original content © 2002 - 2008 The Imperfect Parent™ and Tiny Tantrums Media. The Imperfect Parent and Mominatrix are trademarks of Prudentia Communications Group.

Reproduction of material from any of The Imperfect Parent's pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. The Imperfect Parent and Tiny Tantrums are trademarks of Prudentia Communications Group. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Imperfect Parent. The Imperfect Parent is designed for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for medical, health, legal, or financial advice from a professional.