Ever walk into a situation where you just knew it was your fault, but you didn't know it until mid way through the situation?
Yeah, me too!
I had just such a situation not too long ago.
My Mr. Right and I needed to run out to the store for a few things. We told the kids where we were going, reminded them of the rules, and walked out the door.
Not so untypical from many other such occasions.
We were only gone an hour...not too long but apparently, just long enough.
When we walked in the front door, both kids were sitting on the couch playing their video games.
Again, not so untypical from other times we had walked in from an outing.
However....and you knew this was coming.....my oldest son says,
"The toilet downstairs is over flowing." (said nonchalantly, not even looking up or removing his headphones from his ears, as if the toilet overflowing were an every day occurrence!!)
I ran, not an exaggeration, but literally ran to my downstairs bathroom!
The toilet was still running, the water still flowing and everything from the toilet and beyond was inches deep in water! Yep! Bathroom, kitchen and part of the dining room...flooded!
I lost it! I have to be honest! I scream to my children,
"Why didn't you at least put towels down? Why is the water still running? OH MY GOSH!! The first thing you should have done was turn the water off and then ran to get towels!!! GO GET ME AS MANY TOWELS AS YOU CAN FIND!!!"
Oldest son: "I wasn't sure which ones to use, I didn't know what to do!"
Folks, I kid you not, my youngest son stood looking at me like I had grown a second head and with this complete look of confusion on his sweet little face said,
"You never showed us about the toilet, how was we suppose to know what to do? It's your fault!!"
SCREECH!!!! Everything came to a complete stop!
Wait! What?
Guess whose fault this mess just became? You've got it, MINE!!
He was absolutely right (well except for maybe the towel part...they should have known that water on the floor needs to be cleaned up....well, except maybe there was so much water they really weren't sure what to do with it! I can see that being true). Oh boy!
Long story short, the water got turned off and everyone helped clean up the mess.
But now mom was on the thinking path!
What else did I need to be teaching my kids that they might never learn anywhere else?
I have three categories that immediately came to mind: Home, Car, and Life
Oh, this is going to be a highlight and share sort of list! No, really...
You can highlight any part of my posts and share via Facebook and Twitter! Girl Scouts Honor!
I I know my lists are not comprehensive by any means, but here are just a few things to think about teaching your kids:
Yeah, me too!
I had just such a situation not too long ago.
My Mr. Right and I needed to run out to the store for a few things. We told the kids where we were going, reminded them of the rules, and walked out the door.
Not so untypical from many other such occasions.
We were only gone an hour...not too long but apparently, just long enough.
When we walked in the front door, both kids were sitting on the couch playing their video games.
Again, not so untypical from other times we had walked in from an outing.
However....and you knew this was coming.....my oldest son says,
"The toilet downstairs is over flowing." (said nonchalantly, not even looking up or removing his headphones from his ears, as if the toilet overflowing were an every day occurrence!!)
I ran, not an exaggeration, but literally ran to my downstairs bathroom!
The toilet was still running, the water still flowing and everything from the toilet and beyond was inches deep in water! Yep! Bathroom, kitchen and part of the dining room...flooded!
I lost it! I have to be honest! I scream to my children,
"Why didn't you at least put towels down? Why is the water still running? OH MY GOSH!! The first thing you should have done was turn the water off and then ran to get towels!!! GO GET ME AS MANY TOWELS AS YOU CAN FIND!!!"
Oldest son: "I wasn't sure which ones to use, I didn't know what to do!"
Folks, I kid you not, my youngest son stood looking at me like I had grown a second head and with this complete look of confusion on his sweet little face said,
"You never showed us about the toilet, how was we suppose to know what to do? It's your fault!!"
SCREECH!!!! Everything came to a complete stop!
Wait! What?
Guess whose fault this mess just became? You've got it, MINE!!
He was absolutely right (well except for maybe the towel part...they should have known that water on the floor needs to be cleaned up....well, except maybe there was so much water they really weren't sure what to do with it! I can see that being true). Oh boy!
Long story short, the water got turned off and everyone helped clean up the mess.
But now mom was on the thinking path!
What else did I need to be teaching my kids that they might never learn anywhere else?
I have three categories that immediately came to mind: Home, Car, and Life
Oh, this is going to be a highlight and share sort of list! No, really...
You can highlight any part of my posts and share via Facebook and Twitter! Girl Scouts Honor!
I I know my lists are not comprehensive by any means, but here are just a few things to think about teaching your kids:
HOME
1 Where the water valve is on a toilet and how it works (come on, you KNEW that was going to be my first one!)
2 How to handle water all over the floor when the toilet does overflow
3 How to Plunge a toilet (whether it is slow or has already over flowed.
4 How to turn off the water at the MAIN water shut off valve to the house (just in case the toilet valve won't budge)
5 How to plunge a clogged sink
6 How to put out a grease fire (NEVER USE WATER)
7 How to change a light bulb
8 How to remove a light bulb that has shattered
9 How to fold a fitted sheet (Yeah, this is a fun one!)
10 How to wash dishes by hand (you CAN do THAT?)
11 How to clean a dishwasher
12 How to clean a washing machine
13 How to clean a microwave
14 How to clean an oven
15 How to change a smoke detector battery
1 Where the water valve is on a toilet and how it works (come on, you KNEW that was going to be my first one!)
2 How to handle water all over the floor when the toilet does overflow
3 How to Plunge a toilet (whether it is slow or has already over flowed.
4 How to turn off the water at the MAIN water shut off valve to the house (just in case the toilet valve won't budge)
5 How to plunge a clogged sink
6 How to put out a grease fire (NEVER USE WATER)
7 How to change a light bulb
8 How to remove a light bulb that has shattered
9 How to fold a fitted sheet (Yeah, this is a fun one!)
10 How to wash dishes by hand (you CAN do THAT?)
11 How to clean a dishwasher
12 How to clean a washing machine
13 How to clean a microwave
14 How to clean an oven
15 How to change a smoke detector battery
CAR
16 How to check a tire pressure
17 How to put air in a tire that's low
18 How to change a flat tire
19 How to check and add fluids to a car
20 How to change the oil in a car
21 How to change a wiper blade (this can be a frustration)
22 How to use jumper cables
23 How to use flares
16 How to check a tire pressure
17 How to put air in a tire that's low
18 How to change a flat tire
19 How to check and add fluids to a car
20 How to change the oil in a car
21 How to change a wiper blade (this can be a frustration)
22 How to use jumper cables
23 How to use flares
LIFE SKILLS
24 How to create a budget
25 How to balance a check book
26 How to write a check
27 How to write a grocery list
28 How to grocery shop on a budget
29 How to read a recipe
30 How to address an envelope
31 How to write a letter
32 How to shake hands and introduce yourself
33 How to cook (more than grilled cheese)
34 How to sort and do laundry (nope, they don't just all go in together!)
35 How to manage their time
Start now, start tomorrow, but whatever you do... Start!
Don't wait!! You never know when they may need to know something you didn't think to teach them!
I can assure you, my children now know how to handle an overflowing toilet!!
How bout you? What have you taught your children that I haven't thought of? Help me out! ☻ Share!
24 How to create a budget
25 How to balance a check book
26 How to write a check
27 How to write a grocery list
28 How to grocery shop on a budget
29 How to read a recipe
30 How to address an envelope
31 How to write a letter
32 How to shake hands and introduce yourself
33 How to cook (more than grilled cheese)
34 How to sort and do laundry (nope, they don't just all go in together!)
35 How to manage their time
Start now, start tomorrow, but whatever you do... Start!
Don't wait!! You never know when they may need to know something you didn't think to teach them!
I can assure you, my children now know how to handle an overflowing toilet!!
How bout you? What have you taught your children that I haven't thought of? Help me out! ☻ Share!