My Kids and My Pet Peeves

Let me just start this post by saying that I love my kids. Alot. When one prospects the idea of becoming a parent, you just can't fathom how much that you will love them and how much they will change who you are, for the better. Being a stay at home mom, I can attest to the fact that although I love them, alot, there are a few things that I notice, almost on a daily basis, that drive me batty.
The following is a list of things that I have encountered, just today. I'm sure that if I kept a running list of things that peeve me, I wouldn't get anything else done today. So, here is my short list:
#1: Toothpaste. I am a stickler about brushing teeth. I have my kids brush their teeth after breakfast and again before bed and really anytime in between that I get a whiff of their insanely stinky breath. I have a huge peeve about halitosis. Ask Kim. So, as a result of having this teethbrushing rule, EVERYTIME (and I'm not exaggerating) I go to clean a bathroom, or even just pick it up, there is toothpaste everywhere. In the sink, all over the counter, floor, drawers, you name it. Ugh! Why, oh, why is it so hard to spit it DOWN the sink and then rinse it down?
#2: Empty Toilet Paper Roll. Again, I'm in the bathroom picking up and just about everytime I find that the toilet paper roll is empty. What are they wiping with?? There is usually a refill of TP in the bottom drawer of the cabinet. Somehow this has become too difficult a chore to take on. Reach in the drawer, remove the new roll, take out the springy TP holder, take off the old roll, throw the old roll in the trash, replace the roll on the springy thing and WAHLAH, we have a new, completely usable roll of TP. Too much to ask, apparently.
#3: Clean Clothes on the Floor, Clean Clothes in the Hamper. I really don't mind doing the laundry. In fact, I find it quite satisfying to see the stacked piles of clean laundry when the day is done. A couple of weeks ago, I was cleaning Abby's room (because my mom was coming to visit...I don't usually clean down there unless someone other than Abby will be occupying the bed) and stepped into her room to find a rather large pile of completely clean clothes. This is not unusual, but on this day, I also found another pile of shirts that I had taken the time to hang on hangers (so they wouldn't be all wrinkled and gross looking and my children would therefore not look homeless). The pile of pre-hung clothing was stacked IN FRONT OF the closet. Another two steps, and they would have hung themselves in the closet. Hmmmm.....guess who's now doing her own laundry? It really peeves me even more to be sorting the hampers of dirty laundry and find clothes in there that you KNOW no one has worn. Long sleeved shirts that couldn't have possibly seen the outside, since it is still 90+ degrees here. Clothes that are actually still folded from the last time you washed them. And, now that they have been in the hamper with the other stinky, dirty clothes, they have to be re-washed. Kim and I have provided each of our kids with large dressers. In fact when we moved 18 months ago, they all got NEW large dressers. Although we have provided our kids with this luxury, apparenly we have missed the boat on teaching them that the clean clothes go IN the dresser. We'll have to work on this one.
#4: TV and Lights Left On. All the time, Everywhere. Maybe a month of paying the power bill will cure this one?
#5: The Appearing and Re-Appearing of Polly Pockets and Crayons. If anyone reading this blog has a young daughter, you know what Polly Pockets are. If you don't have a daughter who has a plethera of Polly Pockets and the accessories to these plastic dolls, consider yourself lucky. FYI: These are the new and improved version of a Barbie doll. They are plastic, smaller, and much easier to dress. My girls love them. And really, they do keep them entertained for hours. We have a large box in which to store all the dolls, and their coordinating outfits and accessories. However, here is my peeve about Polly and her smallest ever accessories: They seem to mysteriously re-appear. We go in to clean up after a hour or so of amusement. We get them picked up and put away on the top shelf of the closet. No matter what, I always find more. Another doll, a plastic outfit, a shoe, a purse, whatever. I've already put away the box, and there it is. Always. It just happend this morning. I even left the box out until the very last thing and sure enough when it was all said and done, I walked into my bedroom and there was a brunette Polly Pocket staring me in the face. The same concept with crayons. You can never pick them all up. There is always a stray. Or two, or three.
#6: Stinky Boy Feet and His Stinky Socks. I almost don't have to explain this one - it's disgusting. And, again if you are graced with a son, you know what I'm talking about. Jake has the stinkiest feet ever. And the socks to go with them. I have a specific load that I always designated for Jake's stinky socks. Can you say Clorox Bleach?? I had the grace of finding a bag yesterday. An innocent looking Target bag. Tied shut. I'm sorting laundry and decide that the bag looks like it has clothing of some type in it. I open the bag and almost vomit. Literally. I have a pretty strong stomach, but the foul smell that emanated from that bag almost sent me to the toilet. It was Jake's baseball uniform from Saturday's game. He had been to a friends house after the game and had brought other clothes to change into. The friends mom had given him the Target bag to put his dirty uniform into - she too was probably trying to corral the smell. It had been tied shut for two days. Vomit, Vomit, Vomit. Sadly, it doesn't seem to bother Jake. He's okay smelling his smelly feet and socks, and therefore his room smells like smelly feet and smelly socks. If you have a son, and have not encountered this yet, it's coming. I promise. Gross.

Okay, enough ranting. I've had my peace. I have a few other things on my list of peeves, but these are the ones that have graced my presence this morning.
By the way, my mother is laughing (at me, not with me). She regularly reads my rantings on this blog and I promise you that today, she is laughing. Laughing because as she was raising her own 7 children, these were the things that she ranted and raved about. Life has a way of coming full circle, huh mom? Yes, your oldest daughter is now ranting and raving about the very things that almost sent you to the looney bin.
I'm off to find a few more things that may or may not send ME over the edge.