An Unexpected Frustration

I've always wanted kids... always. And what I invisioned was hugs and laughs and snuggles and playtime. I knew kids could have bad behaviour and felt ready for discipline needs. I knew about responsibility, consistency, sacrifice, blah blah blah... what I wasn't ready for was the constant state of semi-demolision that four kids cause to our house. I can't keep up. There is almost always little toys, paper, shoes, gadgets, wrappers lying about the floor. Usually I sweep it into one pile and have them put it away. I've often lamented I can't keep anything nice - forget pretty breakable things, plants, accessories that look so nice in magazines - between the pets and the kids nothing would survive without breaking for more than an hour. There's artwork that isn't great but still hard to toss, puzzle pieces lost, marker tops, broken toy parts. It builds and hides in crevices and makes the house look trashy. Don't get me wrong, I clean it up - constantly - but it makes sense that with a four against one set up I'm set up for failure, the writing is on the wall. Literally. Paxten KNOWS markers are only for paper. But apparently pens are fine for painted walls. I don't know how she gets ahold of the pens as I keep them out of her reach. Thank Heaven she hasn't discovered the one permanent Sharpie I keep tucked away. Just now I caught Tink and her Copy Cat laughing and running from the counter (where the markers were strewed) to the ottoman in the living room. I watched for a moment to confirm my worst fears then put them both in Time Out. They are currently scrubbing the ottoman with cloths. The marker is long gone I suspect (I ONLY allow C.rayola Washables in the house for this reason exactly), but we're beyond practical cleaning into Principle Cleaning. The worst of it is, I couldn't take a picture as much as I wanted to for fear that it would provide reinforcing attention. In the middle of the multicoloured swirls and scribbles were several perfectly produced "P"'s. I bet had I not caught her in the act, the Girl would have denied her involvement.

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