Mommy Strike
January 9, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff
Every animal we have is because one kid or another came to me on their knees begging.
I’m a hardened mom by now, and through lots of practice, I am able to witness the best of the begging and remained unmoved.
Except when it comes to an animal.
This is how I ended up with two hamsters, a kitten, a dog and a puppy.
We had a rat too, Micky, rescued by my high school daughter, who took it away from some boys in her science lab when they were being mean to it. I accidentally lost her, but that’s another story entirely. Really it was an accident.
In each of the acquisitions of each of these pets, I was promised, PROMISED, that I would have to do nothing. That the feeding, the loving, the cleaning up after, all of it, would be handled without me.
Such lies.
The changing of the kitty litter? Me. The checking the hamsters’s water? Me. The walking the dogs to keep the poop out of the house? So me.
Until this week. This is the week I caved under the pressure of a book deadline, PMS, and a sinus infection, and I went on strike. Yep, you read that right. I am on strike, and I plan to stay on strike until my needs are met. Here they are.
1. Someone must make me fresh cookies. Preferably Youngest. She’s the best cook of the bunch.
2. Someone must clean the kitty litter, the hamster cages, and feed the dogs. Without asking. And feed everyone else while they’re at it. I’ll just put my order in for bbq steak right now, thank you very much. Medium well.
3. Someone other than me must remind all the people about homework, lunch money, and the important of wearing the correct attire according to the real weather not according to their fantasy weather. That someone will have to repeat these reminders ad naseum or it won’t stick. Good luck.
4. If you use the last of the milk, butter, bread, toilet paper– Wait. Let’s just make this moron proof. If you use the last of ANYTHING, put it on the shopping list.
I do not think these demands are difficult to meet. I don’t anticipate prolonged negotiations. I just want action.
And those cookies.
Tags: cookies, humor, kids, mom, parenthood, pets, strike
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
risingrainbow says:
I did this once, went on strike! It did work, but I had to really hand onto my resolve. It was hard, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 1:43 amJudy F says:
Good luck on your strike. LOL
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 3:44 amStacy ~ says:
Stick to your guns Jill. We readers need our Jill fix, so I’m on your side…especially when cookies are involved.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 4:14 amElizabeth K says:
Let us know how it all works out!
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 4:41 amPat L. says:
I love that little face on the kitty kat. It is so adorable.
Did you ever get those cookies you have been needing?
Did you get any gourmet cookies from Santa?
How is your daughter doing?
Pat
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 5:36 amDayna says:
First time here – but I so get where you are coming from… somehow, I don’t think you’ll win this battle… but in the end, you’ll win the war.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 5:44 amMandy says:
I just stumbled upon your blog and love it. I have three daughters as well, all close together. They are little and it is so refreshing to read your blog and see that just maybe I will survive all this after all. Thanks. I look forward to reading more!
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 6:35 amAlison says:
Hmm. Let me know how it works out. And how the cookies are. I have considered that. I have a guinea pig who came with a guarentee that I would have to do *NOTHING* :rotfl: Guess who he loves the most? Me, me, me…cause I give him…you know…FOOD :bananadance:
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 6:43 amLiza says:
Good luck with the strike Jill. Hope you get lots of cookies out of the deal.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 6:47 amBarbara-Jo says:
Good luck….. :rotfl:
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 7:06 amAsthmagirl says:
Let me know if you need me to ship you some cookies… I baked last night.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 7:07 amI love the strike idea. I wouldn’t dare as I’m the one that keeps bringing puppies home! I signed up to be the “poop wranglee”!
Oh… and apparently we don’t believe in telling mw what we’re out of. I just get “I can’t believe you didn’t know I needed shaving cream”. Wow… I can’t believe it either.
Patty L. says:
:thumbsup: YOU GO GIRL!!!! :thumbsup: Let us know how the strike goes, I may need to join your union and strike. :rotfl:
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 7:35 amJill says:
No, I have NOT gotten the cookies I need, at least not yet. Been snowed in for a few days . . .
And for those who have asked, my middle daughter is doing great. She still has the bigeminy rhythm in her heart, doctors are still baffled, we’re still on it regarding testing, etc, but she’s hanging in there!
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 8:30 amJill says:
Oh and I LOVE seeing the new faces!!!!
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 8:32 amSusan says:
My mom tried this when I was a youngster. It worked for a few days then went back to Mom does it.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 9:06 amAllie says:
I’m so glad to hear Middle is doing okay. That must be so stressful for everyone.
As for pets and their care… I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 hamsters, and a fish tank. I take complete care of all of them–even when I had the flu I still had to do everything myself–and yet my husband continues to refer to them as “our” pets. ??
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 9:32 amHallie says:
Stumbled on over from somewhere else….(very descriptive of me! just can’t remember which blog I found you on!)
I love animal lovers – they have kinds hearts. No doubt about it. (we have 2 wieners and a snake)
Nice blog!
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 10:10 amHallie
http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/
Gail says:
LOVE it when you post pics.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 10:28 amDonna M says:
The animals are all adorable. You could just say “no” next time someone wants to add another animal to meneagrie!! Not sure I spelled that right!
Now I am responsible for no one but “Me”!! It’s great! 
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 11:32 amYour strike sounds like a great idea. Moms usually get taken for granted but we have no one to blame but ourselves. Been there done that!!
Welcome to the newcomers.
We have no rain so far today & the sun might come out. How wonderful! That means you might get a break from more snow!
Courtney says:
Good luck on strike Jill! And glad to hear that Middle is hanging tough.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 1:08 pmNancy says:
I’m striking with ya.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pmjeanne says:
Lots of Luck! It never worked for me. The best I can get when I’m on my deathbed is take-out food lol. When I was in the hospital my daughter did feed the cats and my husband did the litter – 4 days in 38 years roflmao.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 2:04 pmBrandy says:
Even when sick I am expected to take care of everyone else, furbabie or human. I can’t wait to see how your strike results. Good luck! *g*
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pmCryna says:
So hoping that you don’t have to be on strike for too long and that it turns out well for you.
Glad to hear that your daughter is hanging in there, and doing well.
Good luck on getting all your demands met. :bananadance:
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 4:44 pmCaryn says:
Good for you! I hope it works. At the very least, maybe they’ll realize all that you do when, well, you’re not doing it. And good luck with the deadline!
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 5:16 pmNANCY says:
:whip: HANG IN THERE JILL WITH THE STRIKE AND DONT GIVE IN. I HAVE TO PULL THAT WITH THE HUBBY FROM TIME TO TIME SINCE ITS ONLY ME AND HIM “NO KIDS” WELL EXCEPT FOR HIM. :yes: JUST BOUGHT THE BOOK “THE TROUBLE WITH PARADISE”. :bananadance: WELL GIRLY, HOPE SOMEONE MADE YOU THE COOKIES YOU SO RICHLY DESERVE.
ALSO, SORRY TO HEAR YOUR DAUGHTHER IS ILL AND TRULY HOPE EVERYTHING COMES OUT JUST FINE AND EVERYTHING WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.. IS THERE REALLY A NORMAL ANYMORE?? 
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pmBailey Stewart says:
I’m glad to hear that MD is doing well.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pmmira says:
:fryingpan: <= what you feel like doing to the rest of them.
I did try going on strike. It wasn’t very successful. There are three kids, one hubby, two pets and me. I was outnumbered. The kids just made bigger messes, the hubby told me I wasn’t allowed to be on strike and the pets just pleaded to be fed. And I didn’t even demand cookies!!!!
Good luck.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 at 7:47 pm