I am tired of looking for things. This a rant; I expect a flame.

[put out]

For the summer, I am a stay at home parent. My 14 soon to be 15 year old is busy mowing lawns and dog-sitting and doing sports, and is learning to drive. My S.O. works full-time, very varying hours. And this is what I hear for too much of the day:

Have you seen my keys? Have you seen my badge? Have you seen your keys? (Numbers 1 and 2, on the counter; number 3, in my purse). Do we have some money? (Yes, you took it from my billfold yesterday. If you have spent that money, you will need to get some more). Do you know where the checkbook is? (Yes, in the first cubbyhole over the desk). Do you have xxxx's phone number at home, also his cell phone? (I think it's in my little phone book, or it's on the fridge). Do we have the code to the neighbor's garage? (Yes, it's on the card she gave us which is on the fridge). Do we have tomato juice? (If we do, it's in the pantry. Which is left of the fridge). Have you seen my sunglasses? (Try up by the bed, then in your vehicle, then by the computer). Did you call my mom today? (No, should I have? You can).

Do I have any clean tee shirts? (I buy them 12 at a time and do laundry every day. Look in your laundry hamper, the clean ones are probably in there, so that you could avoid the pesky task of putting them in your drawer). Do we have soap? (Look in the hall closet). Do we have some toilet paper? (Look under your sink, then look in the hall closet). Did you get shampoo? (Yes, look in the hall closet). Do we have razors, the kind I like? (We have many, look in the hall closet). Do we have some towels I could take with me? (With you where?). Oh just never mind about the towels. Can I have the ones downstairs? (They're on the shelves, but why?).

Where is the hall closet?

Do we have food? (Yes, there is a lot in the fridge, and some more in the freezer). Do we have a freezer? (It is the big white box downstairs where food is frozen). Can you go get some gas for the mower in case I run out? (O.K.) ,and also gas up the van so I can practice driving tonight? (O.K.) ,and also, xxxx needs a ride to practice tonight because his parents are out to eat. (O.K.) Do you have their number? (What is the last name, it is helpful). Don't you know?

Did you find my swim trunks when you picked up my lost wallet from my aunt? (No, I only got your wallet. I don't remember being given a swimsuit). Well, where are they? (You came home with pants on, so I simply don't know where they are now). Well, what am I going to do? (Buy new trunks, I think).

Do you know how to clean up dog pee? (Maybe, what happened). Someone called for you today, do you know who it was? I can't find the paper; oh, wait, it's here on this certificate of education with your name on it. Oh, I didn't get the whole number. You know who this is? (No.)

I love my family with all my soul. But good grief, you wouldn't believe the dialog.

Messed up my spelling on my first post title, edit, go figure.

[Dookus]

1. heheh...

My mother had 4 kids in three and a half years. She had no time for that sort of nonsense.

The answer to "where is XXX" was "wherever you left it". The answer to "do we have any YYY" was "do you SEE any YYY"?

We learned to look for our own stuff.

[Demeter]

2. I'm Tired of Looking for a Significant Other

Remember there are those who will envy you for what you DO have.

[MuseRider]

3. They will soon

be gone. My youngest is going away to school in a few weeks. I have been there and am getting ready to wish I was there again! :cry:
It is annoying, I remember, in fact they are both here right now and I was just asked for some money and where it is. Ahhhh, kids.

[Career Prole]

4. Flames? For what?

If that made you feel better, by golly, good for ya! :toast:
Your family sounds a lot like mine...I'm sure my Mom would've lived longer if she'd had a DU to vent in. :D

[democrank]

5. Ever heard of the word no?

Loving your family isn`t the problem. Loving yourself is. Sounds like your child needs a giant lesson about respect. It starts when you refuse to be the resident servant. Maybe you`d like to consider something like this:

* You may not answer the phone unless you are willing to make note of messages.
* I am no longer in charge of finding items you lose.
* If you want to continue with driving lessons, you must start acting responsibly. If you`re old enough to drive, you`re old enough to find your own swimtrunks.

A big part of loving a child is the committment to foster independence and resonsible behavior. This helps so much later on. You`re doing your child no favors by being his personal maid.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. I don't think that put out is talking about a child.....

n/t

[put out]

11. Not always the child, but the Big Guy too.

And that's my fault. I adopt that role, and relish it and then resent it. Ah, well; a self-made martyr. I always hated that when I saw it in others, and now (channeling *) I can say "Has we learned from this expedience?"

Has anyone ever gone home as an adult, and had Momma putting food in your mouth when you just opened it to say a word? Or had her picking up your dirty clothes (or dang near pulling them off of your body) because she was doing a load of laundry anyway?

Or your dad out inspecting your car and offering unsolicited advice regarding tires? And resale value?

So I do try to keep up with them; relish then resent. I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.

I'm happy to be here at all.

[put out]

7. Thanks for letting me get it out of my evil head.

And for helping me to remember why I helped to make this family in the first place. I surely do not mean to say I don't love them dearly. I landed with the Good Guys.

But dang, get up and look for it yourself! It's in the hall closet!

You all are very kind and wise people.

Kim

[Karenina]

14. Human Directory Syndrome

I know it well. Sometime it's rough. My ex, when I refused to participate in his snipe hunt, would start emptying drawers and creating physical chaos which he would not restore to order when the object of his desire was finally located.

The kids are GROWN and STILL do it. Last weekend I watched in stifled fits of hysterical convulsion as our 40 yr-old birthday boy stretched out his hand behind him FULLY EXPECTING his girlfriend or mother to jump up from the table to hand him the tool he needed to open a box. :wow:
I honestly think it's a "guy thing."

[Interrobang]

19. Ai yai yai, I think you're right!

My fiance does the same thing, although lately he's changed his behaviour somewhat after the umpteenth time I've irritably said, "The x is *right over there in front of you* and I'm not going to get up and get it for you!" or "You want it, you fetch it yourself." I don't mind fetching something if it's right close by, but making someone get up and walk across the room to move something three feet to put it into your hand is just inconsiderate! I'm not anybody's wrench-monkey.

Must be a guy thing...

[Spinzonner]

8. What's the problem

Charge them a dime and answer and make some money off it or change the behavior.

[put out]

12. Cool, done. Except

I get charged every time I curse, 25 cents, plus the others do too. Wait, wait. I can make something back on my losses. Plus then I will stop cursing. Maybe.

This policy in instituted immediately. Written and done.

[Nikia]

9. I'm the one who can't find anything

Luckily my husband can. I hope that when we have kids that they'll take after him in that respect because I can't find anything.

[Kellanved]

10. No, I haven't seen any of that

But have you seen my envelope full of Dutch Florins? It contains my savings for my first independent trip to the Netherlands - I've misplaced it prior to my departure. I've been looking for it for years. Having moved three times since then has not diminished my hopes.

[put out]

13. Have you tried your camera bags? I'm sure you have checked your passport.

Did you bring favorite books which you have not read in a while? Have you looked in your hats? Did you search your Dictionary? Do you have an album which means a lot to you? Maybe a photograph collection of other journeys.

You had a safe place for it, hmmm. Oh, good, another obsession, heh.

[samplegirl]

15. Guantonamo sounds good!!!

I think you hit them all........except one a fav. in my house...
can you throw me a roll of toilet paper im on the shitter.
I dont want to discourge you but I dont think it gets any better. Ive
got my mother who is 90yrs. old and a daughter who thinks her boyfriend is a permanant fixture. 3 bathrooms and nobody can fill
the baskets on the back of each toilet with 4 more rolls of toilet
paper.

[put out]

20. No no no, say it ain't so!

I have a contest against myself: to not put a roll of TP on the dispenser, and only to set them on the counter. And then see how many cardboard rolls will accumulate on the bathroom counter before some other will put the TP on the dispenser.

My record is six. Then someone says "Hey, someone needs to save these for recycling".

I feel your pain.

;)

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Hey, we all get a case of "Momitis/Daditis" now and then. Break out

your Calgon! :D

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

17. I resigned my position as a Human Homing Pigeon

a year or so ago. Even as a child, I knew where random things were and my parents and brother were always asking ME. Why the hell did **I** know where their stupid BELT was, but THEY didn't know???

My significant life partner person picked up on the fact that I had that talent shortly after we started dating. But about a year ago I started saying "I don't know." I know he doesn't believe me but now he looks for the stuff himself.

Unfortunately our daughter seems to have inherited the talent and I hear significant life partner person asking her "Have you seen Daddy's wallet?" She sighs (nine years old), marches over to it and says, "Right HERE Daddy, where you left it!"

I'm encouraging her to let him find his stuff.

[Nevernose]

18. Are these people stupid?

I'd really like to know, because when they're not in your house, they're in mine!