I’m a rule nazi. It’s a good thing my kids aren’t teenagers yet because they still don’t fight back when I frequently say, “Ok, I’m making a new rule!” I mean, who knew you needed rules like don’t wipe your boogers on my bedroom wall or in the carpet, or no sticking your whole fist in your beverage glass, or even do not run up and down the stairs and throughout the house with a poopy bum when you need to be wiped; please stay in the bathroom and call me?!? Sigh. There must be rules.
My “main” rules are taped on the fridge [see photo above] and I make the kids look at them often. “Grant, go look at the rules!” “Clark, stop throwing your books and go look at the rules!” And they do it. They stand there and oogle at them and run through each one, often out loud, and then usually say, “Oops. I forgot that one. Sorry mom.” I usually make them look at them after time-outs, too, so they can pick out the rule that got them into trouble in the first place. Even Natalie walks past the rules and reports proudly, “Mommy, no push.” I know, I need counseling.
You know, God gives us rules, too — commandments, and then the Holy Ghost “makes new rules” all the time like pick up the toys with them instead of yelling at them to do it. I wish I were as disciplined about returning to the rules as I make my children be. I think I’d make less mistakes if I constantly turned back to the scriptures to help me correct and monitor my behavior. Maybe I need more time-outs myself…. oh, good idea; wouldn’t that be nice?
(This entry was originally posted on August 27, 2008. I’m still rebuilding my lost archives.)
Diapers and Divinity 
I love the “no waking up people” picture. The face of contentment, with a sly arm just sticking out of the corner. Hilarious.
You are just so smart. Both about what you make your kids do with the rules and your own realizations. I am a horrible rule-keeper when I don’t have someone to be accountable to. And as a mom, that’s kind of hard.
The pictures are the best part.
I love reading these old posts. This is really great. I love the idea of posting the rules and having the kids refer back to them. I also love the analogy with the “new rules” we’re given each day. We just have to listen, and they make our lives so much better when we do.
Is your fridge pink?
And love the illustrations! I am totally instituting the No Waking People Up rule!
Rules are good! But if there’s anything I’ve learned in my profession is that if kids have too many rules, they are going to rebel. Yours sound very reasonable. 🙂
I will make one of these for when the kids are home for the summer. They need to be reminded often.
Awesome visuals! The please and thank you face is priceless!
You definitely DON’T NEED COUNSELING. WE DO!!! Thanks for sharing this!
I love the rules. I mean, your rules for your kids. And I guess I love God’s rules too, because I’m always safer and happier within them.
Love this post.
You’re pictures are WAAAAAAAY better than mine. I can’t wait until my kids can read so I don’t have to rely on lame rudimentary cave paintings to remind them of what they’re supposed to be doing or, more importantly, NOT doing.
My kids are teenagers and I still make and post rules. I guess they’ve lived with them all their lives so they don’t know how odd we are!
For years I’ve taught that commandments were pages from the “How to be a God Handbook”, and that God reveals a little of Himself whenever He gives us a commandment. If we want to be like HIm, we need to keep His commandments, and so forth.
I think parenting rules can be a lot like that. And they can be as specific as they need to be. Do you wipe boogers all over your walls? Are you a happy and productive member of society? Then you reveal to your children a little about how you became such by giving the commandment, “Thou shalt under no circumstances deposit those boogers anywhere, lest thou be smitten on thy freshly wiped bottom, see if I don’t”.
Your divinity is showing, Stephanie!
Love the rules with pics.
I often put myself in timeout. hehe.