I’ve got just five days left for the A to Z blog challenge—and about 18,000 things to get done in the next two weeks. My mom went home today and I’m drained on all levels.

So, for a quick discussion: what’s your least favorite household chore?

Some people opine that saying please implies that you’re merely requesting, not insisting. 2ly (and please read that as “two-ly” ), it undermines your authority as a parent. Lastly, it annoys them it puts you into poor bargaining position if they refuse.

Other people say that it’s important to teach our children to say please by example. Other people in the pro-please camp say that by saying please the first time, it makes you sound less like a petulant dictator. Finally, it makes you look (and feel) like you have the moral high ground if a child refuses, since you “asked nicely,” and they were the unreasonable ones when the didn’t comply.

Personally, I do ask Hayden to do things the first and maybe the second time. If he doesn’t go along after that, though, it ain’t pretty.

What do you think—do you say “please”?

Two fisted drinker. His grandma introduced him to root beer, if you’ll recall.

That’s one really weird deformity.

Tie monster!

(Cleaned out Ryan’s closet. This writhing mass now resides on the floor… on my side of the bed. Go figure.)

Hayden’s new home

Helping with chores. I think we had a picture of me mopping when I was about 2, so this runs in the family.

Here it is, young love. Whiskers needs it.

Haydie actually did that all by himself today. He was whining and trying to pick the kitty up, so I had him sit down and placed Whiskers on his lap. Spontaneous hugs. Sweet boy.