Today started as many days, me frustrated with the kids because hey, I can be annoyed easily upon waking. Clearly as I blog at nearly 2 am, I'm not a morning person. Also, we had the same argument over cleaning up the toys. It takes consisent work to keep all the rooms of a house organized, doesn't it?! I've been rather tired of this one particular dialogue between one of my dear children and myself. It goes something like this:   

Me: "Child A, please pick up the toys you've taken out."        

Child A: "UghhhhhhhhEEEwwww, I JUST started playing........gggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooannnn." (there is rolling around or general gyrating going on whether I'm watching or not)     

So, I go into my bit about throwing away what isn't put away blah blah blah. People are crying, I'm talking loudly...you get the picture.          

In the last 5 months about SIX lawn bags of toys have left our humble abode. Not all were due to the throw away threat (and reality), but were the mere product of not wanting to live with a toy room that looked a lot like like the local dump.       

Off we go to our morning outing and thankfully someone I like to talk to is there and willing to listen to me rant about my toy dilemma. She is a kind soul and empathized, which was very helpful. I calmed down, we finished our AM obligation, and headed to my dear friends for the rest of the day.    

While there one of my friends generous children wanted to give Child A of mine a toy, that Child A REALLY WANTED to accept. Naturally Child A was not permitted to accept said toy due to the reoccuring problem with cheerfully obeying my very reasonable request to put away what one has taken out when one is finished with said objects. Again, tears and saddness, broken hearts...but it was a golden opportunity to point out that those tears were surely tears of regret at giving me such a hard time, because had Child A been obeying with respecting the toys and our home and my instructions, I would have said ok to the newly offered stuffed animal, which had already been proclaimed to be a favorite that would ALWAYS get put away. But you know, actions speak louder than words. So, if there is improvement and consistent toy putting away for the next several weeks without a poor attitude, the next time a toy is proffered, I'll probably say yes :).                      

I'm happy to say our evening was pleasant with good attitudes abounding. Reading in bed time was full of one little boy kissing me and his oldest sister repeatedly, while gently caressing arms and smiling lovingly at us. It was precious. The middle sister was snuggled up nicely and there were no unpleasantries. I sure love nights like this and wish we had them every night!