What is it About Mondays?

Despite the gloom, I woke up today in a good mood, with high motivation for a great day! I "swish and swiped" my bathroom--see flylady for a description, and made my children hot cocoa and Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs for breakfast. Not the most nutritious breakfast, but I thought it would put us all in a good mood on this gloomy Monday. The three younger children were sitting at the bar, sipping cocoa and eating cereal and looking adorable. My heart swelled with love for them.

Then they opened their adorable mouths.

Youngest daughter to youngest son's Webkinz, who joins us at every meal: Good morning, Cody! Youngest son says nothing. She repeats it: Good morning, Cody!

Youngest son, grumpily: You already said that a million times!

I tell youngest son to change attitude or go back to bed and start over.

My daughter, just to irritate him, directs her next good morning to him--not the stuffed animal.

I give her the knock it off look.

Apparently youngest daughter is eating her cereal in a way that is disturbing to youngest son, because he starts in again: JoJo!!! STOP eating your cereal that way!!!

Me: Buddy, that's a two. (The "one" was implied when I told him to change his attitude)

Meanwhile, oldest son tells--I mean yells--at youngest daughter not to get a straw for her hot cocoa.

I feel a headache coming on, so I head to the coffeepot for another cup, and to the medicine cabinet for SEVERAL Motrin.

Upon my return, it begins again.

Oldest son to youngest daughter: Stop staring at me!! (I am now regretting passing up the Percocet for the Motrin)

Youngest daughter: I am not staring at you. When I do this--she looks at her brother--I am just looking at you. When I do THIS--she looks at him, again, and I see no noticable difference--I am staring at you.

They start elbowing each other.

Me: When I tell you guys to knock this stuff off and be nice to each other, you know that your behavior is annoying and sinful and I want it to stop. When I pack my bags and LEAVE, you will know that you have finally driven me to the breaking point and I can't live here any more. It might be good if you wait to push me to that point until Wednesday, when your dad gets home from his trip.

They finish the rest of the meal in silence. Yay!! My point was made! However, I can sense "round two" coming on, as their next task will be to clean their rooms, which is guaranteed to start nit-picky arguments.

I think I am going to go hunt down my suitcase. So, if I appear on one of your doorsteps, you won't need to ask what happened.