In This House...

I remember as a child hearing my parents and grandparents use the same phrases over and over again, they drilled it into my head and I was so irritated when I'd hear...
"Three no-thank you bites" - meaning, I had to choke down what ever nasty food they put in front of me (Well, at least 3 bites of it) like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or kidney beans.



or

"Make your head save your heals" - meaning, don't be a lazy ass kid! Take your laundry with you when you go upstairs.  If you don't I am just going to call you all the way back downstairs to get it and take it up.

or

"Idol hands are the devil's workshop" - meaning, you look bored, let me give you some chores to do so I can check them off my list.

After this past weekend, I decided it's time for some catch phrases of my own.  I needed to create one that I could apply to not only my own but other people's children, pets, and husbands.  Here is what I came up with.



In this house: People pick up after themselves
In this house: we don't cry unless we are bleeding or hurt
In this house: Whining gets you nowhere
In this house: Kids to the dishes
In this house: We don't hit people
In this house: we don't call people names
In this house: you will treat adults with respect
In this house: we are kind to one another
meaning, I don't care what you do in your house but in this house we all carry our own weight, respect people, cry when something is really wrong and we are kind to each other.  I will reward this behavior with kisses and hugs and praises in all forms.  I want to say "I will not tolerate" any more hitting, whining, disrespectful behavior, cussing, and leaving your dirty dishes for me to collect and wash but I am not sure I am there yet.  In the mean time I'll remind them that:



In this house: People pick up after themselves
In this house: we don't cry unless we are bleeding or hurt
In this house: Whining gets you nowhere
In this house: Kids to the dishes
In this house: We don't hit people
In this house: we don't call people names
In this house: you will treat adults with respect
In this house: we are kind to one another

Cross your fingers.