Teenagers
The boys turned 14 on Sunday. They have also started back in their second year of high school (4th form to us oldies ;) or year 10).
They are finding it really hard to get back into their school routine of getting up early. They just can't comprehend that if they go to bed late, they will be tired when they have to get up in the morning.
Yesterday was the last straw. I had been late for work every day this week. When time to go they said they didn't have any breakfast or make any lunch, so they went hungry all day yesterday. They are way old enough and ugly enough to get their own breakfast and make their lunch, but they are not organised.
I was heading the desk. But instead of dispairing, I decided to get them new lunch boxes. Make them make their own lunch - but do it in the evening, like I used to do when I did it for them. I went and picked apples and plums from our fruit trees to go in their lunch boxes.
This morning when I got up I put on the kettle, and I put some eggs on to boil. I woke them up. I had a shower, I woke them up again. I set out boiled eggs, toast and tea for them, so they just had to crawl out of bed and sit and eat. I woke them up again... I got dressed, and woke them up again. It takes them half an hour to get up from when I first wake them up.
They grumble that they are tired. BUT last night I had told them to go to bed from 9pm, over and over again. I said they needed an early night so they can get up early. But it was still after 10 when they went to bed. I get up at 6. So you can see that 9 is a better bed time is they want to get enough sleep. Seems hard for them to get this. They just think it would be easier if I started work later, so they didn't have to get up so early. Me starting work later would mean my whole day would be gone. I would get home too late to take them to any clubs, too late to cook dinner at a reasonable hour.
They are so much hard work, and I am fed up with repeating myself a million times a day!
To top that, Joseph had his bag raided at school, and lost half his new school books and stationery. As I only got all new stationery for the year last week - $100, I am not impressed. I am not replacing books every other week because of some thugs. Lets hope he talks to his teacher about it today, or I am going to have to ring the school again.
They are finding it really hard to get back into their school routine of getting up early. They just can't comprehend that if they go to bed late, they will be tired when they have to get up in the morning.
Yesterday was the last straw. I had been late for work every day this week. When time to go they said they didn't have any breakfast or make any lunch, so they went hungry all day yesterday. They are way old enough and ugly enough to get their own breakfast and make their lunch, but they are not organised.
I was heading the desk. But instead of dispairing, I decided to get them new lunch boxes. Make them make their own lunch - but do it in the evening, like I used to do when I did it for them. I went and picked apples and plums from our fruit trees to go in their lunch boxes.
This morning when I got up I put on the kettle, and I put some eggs on to boil. I woke them up. I had a shower, I woke them up again. I set out boiled eggs, toast and tea for them, so they just had to crawl out of bed and sit and eat. I woke them up again... I got dressed, and woke them up again. It takes them half an hour to get up from when I first wake them up.
They grumble that they are tired. BUT last night I had told them to go to bed from 9pm, over and over again. I said they needed an early night so they can get up early. But it was still after 10 when they went to bed. I get up at 6. So you can see that 9 is a better bed time is they want to get enough sleep. Seems hard for them to get this. They just think it would be easier if I started work later, so they didn't have to get up so early. Me starting work later would mean my whole day would be gone. I would get home too late to take them to any clubs, too late to cook dinner at a reasonable hour.
They are so much hard work, and I am fed up with repeating myself a million times a day!
To top that, Joseph had his bag raided at school, and lost half his new school books and stationery. As I only got all new stationery for the year last week - $100, I am not impressed. I am not replacing books every other week because of some thugs. Lets hope he talks to his teacher about it today, or I am going to have to ring the school again.