Why I would not make a good sheep dog

I would not make a good sheep dog because despite my attempts at
herding my brood I cannot seem to get them to go in the direction I
would like. This is extremely frustrating to me. Especially on weekends.

On weekends we clean the house and run errands. We are trying to get
it all done early so that we can work around my youngest daughter's
naptime. However, the only thing we were successful at was me getting
angry.

Angry at the complaining. Angry at the noncompliance. Angry at the
lack of listening skills. Angry at myself for my lack of patience and
for losing my cool.

How is it that four people who I am supposed to love with all my heart
can make me angrier than I have ever been? They push all my buttons,
which is easy because they created them.

Why is it that I am expected to keep a clean house but they don't have
to help out? Why am I held to a standard that does not actually allow
me to get anything done? For instance while cleaning my bedroom this
morning my youngest got into the snack drawer four times. Four times!
First it was raisins, then vegetable straws, some rice crackers and
lastly some graham crackers. While part of me praises her independence
the other part of me is thinking "now cut that out!" I simply can't be
in another room from her. She is two.

So how is it possible for me to accomplish my mountain of need to's?
It's not. So it adds up and then the weekend hits and I think "great,
now I will have extra hands to help me." But it never goes like that.
So I end up yelling for them to clean their rooms and put away shoes
and toys because the first three times I asked nicely fell on deaf ears.

These are the moments no one tells you about at your baby showers.
These "real life" moments. I think I would rather have gotten books on
how to tame your independent, stubborn child then the books on infant
care. Turns out taking care of a baby is rather easy compared to an
adolescent.

So when you think to yourself there is more to do than hours in the
day do not despair. All of the moms in the motherhood club are right
there with you. They may like to pretend they have it all together
but they don't or they have a maid, a nanny, terrifically helpful
parents or in-laws. I think what all moms need is a good housecleaning
fairy and maybe a good sheep dog. One that can actually move the herd
in the right direction without losing it's temper.