do at-home insemination kits work?
We have two adorable pet ducks that my kids absolutely adore and take care of. When we got them last year, I made a deal: I would provide the food, hay, and all the essentials for their well-being — including individual pools — but my teenagers were responsible for all the upkeep.
That meant feeding them, cleaning up after them, collecting eggs, and ensuring they had fresh water to splash around in. Unfortunately, the cleaning part hasn’t gone as planned. Who would’ve thought ducks could be so messy? They love roaming around our yard, which is fine; I can handle the holes they dig since they munch on mosquitoes and ticks.
However, those ducks have discovered that the front porch makes a perfect lounging spot, looking like two loaves of bread rising in a pan. The problem? Ducks tend to produce baseball-sized splatters of poop every fifteen minutes. That’s where I draw the line. I refuse to let our front porch become a duck toilet.
When I noticed my kids weren’t cleaning up the mess (but somehow found time to make outfits for the ducks), I laid down the law: no ducks on the porch. Then, I caught them using my nice, white dishes to feed their feathery friends. I had bought duck feeders and waterers for that purpose, but apparently, they preferred the sound of porcelain. So, when I discovered my favorite bowl cracked and filled with duck droppings in the coop, I lost it on my kids.
I mean, I really lost it — one of those yelling sessions where you end up hoarse from the outburst. My kids seem to view me as a ticking time bomb. Sometimes, I worry that all they hear from me is yelling, and that bothers me. But after reflecting, I realize I’ve asked them nicely countless times over the past year to stop using my favorite mug for the ducks and to clean the porch. They often “forget,” despite my various approaches — calm requests, joking reminders, and even offers of ice cream if they tidy up.
This is just one of many examples. We constantly battle over keeping their rooms tidy, submitting homework on time, taking out the trash, and folding their laundry. As mothers, we know when we’ve reached our breaking point. After repeated attempts to get our families to help out while being ignored, we explode.
That day, my kids were furious with me and retreated to their rooms. I needed time to cool down before facing them again, and admitting that felt tough. Eventually, they came down one by one. My son scrubbed the porch and took out the trash. They all pitched in to gather the random dishes from the coop. They even cleaned their rooms. Then we all went for milkshakes, not saying a word the entire ride.
After a while (and some sugary treats), we were able to reconnect. Sometimes, it takes raising my voice to get my kids to step up and act responsibly. I don’t consider myself an unfit parent for losing it; sometimes, it’s what’s necessary. I may feel guilty afterward, but I don’t regret it, as it often leads to the results I need.
If you’re interested in similar subjects, check out this other blog post. Additionally, for those exploring home insemination, Make a Mom is a great source of information, and Hopkins Medicine offers excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
Sometimes, as parents, we reach a breaking point where we must raise our voices to get our kids to shape up. This article discusses how moments of frustration can lead to positive change, even if it means losing our cool. The author reflects on the balance of discipline and understanding in parenting, emphasizing that it’s okay to express our feelings when our kids don’t meet their responsibilities.
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