I’m at my wit’s end. Owen is completely trained—day and night. James James James! No. 1, great. No. 2, refuses. He hides and then comes to us, hands covering his eyes and whispers what he’s done. We have tried e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. For months. Many, many months. We’ve tried charts—three different charts—each with different goals and rewards. […]
Sophie (at 9:37pm, after asking for a glass of water, while both boys are screaming for me): “Why are you a little stompy right now?” I guess the hardwood floor in her room did a poor job of hiding tonight’s frustration. “There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get […]
Getting out the door with all three children is tough, especially in cold weather. I refill the diaper bag. I check diapers. I remind Sophie to try to go potty. Again. And again. And again. I find six socks. I put on six socks. I find six shoes. I put on six shoes. I find […]
I’m typing this while sitting on the floor in James and Owen’s bedroom. Every minute or so I look up and look them in the eyes—they’re looking at me, waiting. Waiting for me to spend too long looking at my computer. Waiting for me to get up and help Sophie with something. Waiting for their […]
This morning I walked past unmade beds … and a laundry basket overflowing with dirty clothes … and a playroom that, honestly, more often than not looks like this. I walked down the stairs past the frame in our wall gallery that still has the model family in it, as I haven’t had time to […]
