Bad Mom

So I am officially the worst Mom in the world!! I took cell phones/computers away from both of my children, made them cry and clean up their messes (of course, neither of them made the mess)!

I need a crash course in teaching my kids how to do simple chores without having to punish them constantly. I feel like all I do is go behind them and tell them to "Come here, finish doing __________!"

Well, yesterday was the last straw. I walked into our family room and someone had taken PB and Nutella and left both jars and a water bottle on the table (we have a rule of no eating outside of the kitchen/dining room), dishes were left in the sink and their bathroom stunk! I went over the deep end, to say the least. I took their cell phones for the weekend and told them to clean up their rooms and if not when I got home from work today, the computers were going to be gone! Guess what....not done! Why? I don't mumble, I don't stutter, I am pretty sure I spoke loud and clear!

I have good kids, I really do. They just won't do chores for what ever reason. I am NOT a maid, I DO work and when they are home all summer they are expected to help out just a little. Why is this a complicated subject for them to comprehend? Why?

I don't like yelling, I don't like punishing, I don't like being talked to like I am one of THEIR children, I don't like crying because I feel like I have done something wrong. I am pretty sure things will get better, I pray things will get better.

All I can do is take one day at a time and say a little prayer before I walk in the house that I won't lose my mind!