Job Description

Being a grown up is hard. Everyone knows this. Except children. Being a child is easy. Everyone knows this. Except children.

My children have a good life. An easy life. I don't impose many chores, or any chores for that matter. I simply ask for a little common sense and respect among those who have to live in the house. The job description of a Rogers child is easy.

You wake up. If you're cranky - don't get out of bed until you can compose yourself like a person I'd like to talk to. (I'm talking to you Maddie).

You eat breakfast. In our house we have several (and I mean SEVERAL) choices of breakfast. When I was a kid we had cereal. Now we have hot pockets, toaster scrambles, toast, cereal, pop tarts, bacon, oatmeal, and even occasionally I throw in a day of hot pancakes or french toast, and on the exciting day, they have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (don't laugh, this is a TREAT for them...they love it). Anyway, back to the topic - with all of these options of breakfast, whining about not having anything to eat is ridiculous. So stop it. There are no other options unless you want to go outside and eat some grass. Enjoy yourself.

You get dressed for school. This means clean socks. This means clean underwear. This means clothes that match or at least do not hurt my eyeballs. This means clothes that are weather appropriate. Shorts in December is not. A sweater on a 75 degree day is not. A dress on PE day is not .

You go to school. Unless you're projectile vomiting or spiking a temperature there is no way out of it and arguing about it will only bring bad things to you. Trust me. There is nothing you can say to me to get you to stay home just because, so suck it up and go.

You come home. I realize being in school for 6 hours is a pain in the butt. I went to school. I hated it. However, you are home now. You should be happy about this situation instead of being a thorn in my side.

You do your homework. There is no way around this activity. Homework must be done. Putting it off, which is not allowed, only cuts into fun times like watching TV or playing with toys, which can't happen until homework is done anyway, so again....suck it up and do it. Also, doing it neatly and correctly the first time means you get done faster and can move onto other exciting things. I know it's fun to erase an entire math worksheet because you blew through it and didn't do it correctly or neatly, but we try to avoid this situation.

You eat your dinner. I don't care what it is. If it's on you're plate, it has a one way ticket to your belly. There are no free passes. There are no negotiations. I am not a bad cook, I know this because I eat my food too, so you eat your dinner and then you smile and say thank you. (ha)

You leave me alone. Sometimes, mom wants to sit down and read a book. Sometimes mom wants to use the potty without having a conversation through the door. Sometimes mom wants to fold laundry (not) without having to refold it after you dive bombed the bed.

You keep your room looking semi-normal. Dylan apparently hasn't grasped this concept yet, and as he gets older it gets worse. I went to clean it for him the other day and I was scared. I am pretty sure there is a family of 4 living under his bed.

You sleep. Hopefully, you sleep good. If not we start the day over again in a cranky fashion.

Seems reasonable, right?