Other People's Kids

I have three kids of my own, and I like to think they are pretty well-behaved. So, why is it that other people's children aren't more like mine? It seems the kids around the neighborhood here have no respect for anyone.

A couple weeks ago all three of my girls were grounded for not having their rooms clean when I told them I wanted them done. Their punishment was to stay in thier room until they were finished, without playing. The doorbell rings and I answer the door to find two of the neighborhood kids standing there. This is the dialogue:

Kids: Hi, can the kids come out and play?
Me: No. Come back tomorrow.
Kids: Why can't they play today?
Me: Because they have to stay in their rooms.
Kids: Why?
Me: Because I said so.
Kids: But, can't they just come out for a little while?
Me: No, they have to stay home.
Kids: What did they do?
Me: (getting rather irritated) Just come back tomorrow...

And, I shut the door on them. What gives them the idea they can question me? Do they get away with that at their homes??

Not to mention the way they behave while there are here. Just yesterday I had my kids plus three other children in the living room watching Spy Kids 3-D. When I peeked in on them I saw my kids sitting on the floor watching the movie and two of the visiting children were jumping on my sofa! My kids have been sent to time-out for less than that... So I put on my mommy face (see below) as I walked down the stairs and told the girls who were jumping on the couch to get down, "we don't jump on the furniture at our house."

They looked at me like I was sprouting another head!

I'm sure they went home and told their mothers what an evil, horrible, mean mommy I am and ask if they could adopt my poor kids to rescue them from my sinister clutches.



Photo suits me, eh?