Today I was out and about with one of
my cousins. We got on the topic of children telling their parents
“no.” She continued to tell me about how one child refused to
clean up their mess and another refusing to get a display ready for
an awards ceremony. I was in shock because when I grew up I didn't
tell my parents “no” to anything and neither did she.
Many of you do not know my parents.
They are your typical no nonsense I'm not taking crap from anyone-let
alone their own children type of parents. If my parents said to do
something, we typically did it because we knew the consequences of
not doing what we were asked to do. Let me share a
time when one of us did not do what our mother had asked.
First let me premise this story by
saying morning time at the Statum house was absolutely crazy when I
was in high school. My older brother was serving an LDS mission, and
me being the second oldest it was my responsibility to get everyone
where they needed to be by 8am. A typical school day would start
with me leaving the house at 5:30 am to attend early morning seminary
at the church. When I left for seminary, I had to be ready for the
day. I would leave seminary between 6:50-7am. I would put the petal
to metal in our ole Bonneville to make the 15 min drive home in about
10 mins. As soon as I announced I was home, I would see where
everyone was at in getting ready for the day. Usually Mom would have
my younger siblings ready to go and she would be finishing getting
ready. We had morning family prayer in the car before we left the
drive way. My mother was a high school teacher so I would drop her
off first usually and then race across town and drop off my sister at
the elementary school. Then I would go back across town and drop my
younger brother at the middle school and then my other brother and I
would get to the high school and head to our first block class. Now
onto my story....
This particular morning we were running
a little late. My mom said “Robyn, get the kids in the car. I am
almost ready to walk out the door.” I rounded up my younger
siblings and was like let's go. Zack leave your baby sister alone.
For the love. At this point, mom in her very scary authoritative
voice said Zachary Grant leave your sister alone. By this point it
was too late. My sister so was mad at her older brother that she
pulled down the curtain. Now I am not talking about just the curtain
but the whole blooming thing. At this point, mom was ready to go,
and she was none too happy when she walked down the hall. She
proceeded to tell my brother that he was going to move into my
sister's room when he got home from school. What came out of his
mouth next left me speechless. He told my mother the word “NO!”
(I don't ever remember telling my mother that word. That was and is
a word my parents say to their five children. We don't say it to our
parents.) In response all my mother said was “just wait till I
speak with your father.” (Now when my mother said this growing up
we were screwed. I mean screwed. My parents were/are always on the
same page when it comes to raising their children. This was never
good for us as their children when we were in trouble.) We proceed
to the car and mom offers to say morning family prayer. (Another sign
that you are screwed especially when she prays that the spirit of
contention will leave as she did this particular morning.) Needless
the car drive was quiet. I drove everyone to their destinations, and
due to my led foot I was able to get to school a little bit early.
Me being the nosy big sister that I am asked my mom if she was able
to reach my dad before he left work. (Side note: My dad worked the
graveyard shift growing up so he was not around during our morning
chaos.) Oh she had reached my father before he left work. By the
time my two youngest siblings had gotten home from school, my father
had moved Zack into Becca's room.
Moral of the story never ever ever tell
my mother the word “NO!”
