Thursday Reflections

It's a little difficult to reflect right now, as the provisional taxpayer deadline is this evening.
We are crazy today, but not as crazy as I used to be in the previous place I worked.


I have always met my deadlines, it's just how I do it that seems different.  Maybe I've matured.

Then: Growling, snarling and spitting my way towards 8pm and still at the office.
Now: Finished before I leave the office at 4pm, with a smile on my face.

I can't even explain it, except that, perhaps I'm just checking, not actually doing the return... that could make a big difference.  And I've got people to delegate to, so I only focus on the returns - the other stuff can be left to the admin guys.

On a different note, the Bunny asked me why I'm always shouting at Angel Boy.  I justified it by the fact that he's constantly leaving his clothes on the floor and not putting them in the wash basket... blah blah blah..  It made me stop in my tracks (and then justify).  I asked her why she said that, and she said "Because you're always yelling at him!"

It doesn't get much clearer than that.

It was around the time he went to stay a couple of extra days at his mom's house, so I thought I'd just leave it, but I did some soul searching and I'm embarrassed to say I've found that I'm a little resentful.

I get up early to make his lunches (and everyone's), I cook his dinner (and everyone's), I have his clothes washed and ironed (and everyone's), etc, and all I want in return is a little bit of help - pick up your clothes and put then in the wash basket.  Even the 4 year-old puts her clothes in the wash basket. Pack the dishwasher after dinner.  The 4 year-old puts her plate in the sink, surely a 16 year-old can open a dishwasher and pack the dishes away.  Just something to make me see that you appreciate what I do.

I think what freaks me out the most is that he does all this at his mom's house, but in mine he just coasts like he's on holiday.

I have no idea how to open a discussion on this.  I've tried saying that he's responsible for the kitchen after dinner, but it lasts one night and then it's forgotten again.
I'm thinking of drawing up a roster and putting it on the fridge, but then I think pocket money may do the trick.  But should I be bribing him to clean the kitchen?  Shouldn't he be doing that because he's part of a family?

I don't know... any idea's?