Just ran across a teenage moms blog- and this insight is SO accurate....

"In prison and in school you align yourself with people that you normally under any other conditions would avoid. Just another simple lesson that adds a little perspective."

VERY appropriate-- and funny!

Make Me Mad

Just a thought for all you moms-- DON'T let them bait you.
Our kids are tough nuts to crack, and most of the time, the morning is the WORST, since all of us are also tired.
No meds in their system, and late night lack of sleep makes mornings deadly.
Being angry does nothing to help, and acting stern as you try to drive them from their beds is just a good way to start another fight before you have had your first cup of coffee.
Take your time, and even if they are late and you have to drive, be KIND. Work on always smiling and gently getting them out and dressed and fed with humor and joy. IGNORE the sullen nasty growls and the vicious moments. PRETEND you are June Cleaver. PRETEND they are not bothering you.
It does work- and, over time, they actually RESPOND.
It took 5 months of my daily morning smiles- NO irritation at the lack of response, at the disconcern for others, at the dawdling, at the threats and angry moments-to see a dramatic change in my boy.
HE is smarter than ME. I was the one that wasn't getting it. Being angry- for any reason- never made a difference, and often just aggravated the situation- but it took me YEARS of doing it and NOT getting the response I wanted to realize that being forceful was not the way.

Being angry worked in the real world- but with my son, all it did was aggravate the situation, and mornings were my button.
Now, even when I am tired, even when I am late and miserable, I just don't put it on him.
When he grows up, he might not be the most prompt person in the world, but he won't remember every morning with me as torture. And neither will I.