Grill Instructor is my middle name!!

I never thought in a million years I would be the mother to harp out rules and regulations. Yikes, seeing how I was the wild child and did whatever I wanted the summer of 1988. Mind you my parents were too busy to care for what I was doing. Freedom ran though my veins and I accepted its lifestyle there after. Ha ha...really I was the free spirit until my dark period. I had my own rules...one actually..."Don't Get Caught "and I respected the freedom to not engage in illegal activities...okay, I was a teenager and done some stuff. I'm taking the 5th on those activities I consider the grey area of teenage delinquency.

So add 20 years and now I have children of my own and I'm not what I thought I would be as a mother. Holy, I kinda scare myself. I understand the freedoms to be a child but I also realized children need structure and discipline. It's like I'm a broken record like:
Telling them to pick up there toys
clothes don't belong on the floor
make sure you wash your hands
dirty dishes belong by the kitchen sink
I could go on and on but you get the point.

I also have to give credit I've been letting the children have there own freedoms in independence like picking out(approved)clothing when we go shopping and other stuff age appropriate. They stay up way later than their peers. Bedtime for us is about 8pm but for the longest time it was 9pm and it was our choice due to the hubby working late and our selfish reason so he could spend time with his kids.

We also don't allow them in our Master Bedroom unless it's taking baths. It's a boundary we both agreed upon. That's our space and no, my children don't come running in our room in the morning. No cuddling, and yes, I understand other families do this and I don't have a problem because it's there choice but for us we don't let the kids in our room. We have taught them to knock before entering. Parents have needs you know and some privacy is important and we felt if we allowed them to enter whenever they pleased we wouldn't get our "alone time" if you get my drift. We're teaching them about personal space and just because they are little doesn't mean they have full rein over our house.

I think I'm more strict then my mother was with me on some things..yikes. I may have to re-valuate my stance on that one. I call it being safe and aware. When I am working in the front yard they can't go past the sidewalk and to stay in my view at all times. When we're in a store they have to stay close or get put in the cart. If they take a toy off the shelf to look at it they have to put it back. I guess that's more on the manners then being strict. Okay, so I'm not as strict as my mother...few..now I don't have to jump off a bridge. I do have to admit my mother wasn't a great mother to me so I don't have a model to go by to be a great mother. I only have "what not to do" to guide me through motherhood. Being a mother is the hardest job I have ever done. The hardest!! Take care, Peace!!