WIBU to lock DC in the cellar

[Crabapple99]

with their school bags and instruments and not let them out until all homework and music practice is complete.

So much fro my good intentions af guiding them to get it all done at the start of the holidays, we have spent all day arguing about it and they have achieved 0.

If only they put 1/10 of the effort they put into avaoiding it, into actually doing it..............

( Mind you, we would have to buy a house with a cellar first, but the was yI feel right now, I'd be up for doing moving home tomorrow)

How old are they?

DS1 and his flute are on the way to join them...

Especially as he regards the telly being turned of as if I have tried to remove one of his limbs.

10 and 12. How do you get a 10 and 12 year old to sit down and fo their howmework when they are so sure the christams holidays are never goingto end, and they've got forever for it

How big is your cellar? You could offer this as a service to all local parents, and make a few bob on the side. :o

DS1 didn't pick up his violin for 2 weeks. It shows

Chaz, we have the same response about the game consol!

Do you have room for my DD in that cellar? She is eleven, perfectly capable, has no homework or music and refuses to learn her times tables. All she wants to do is dance.

Mind you, she'd find some way of making even a cellar an inhabitable mess

10 minutes music practice = 10 minutes computer (that's 10 minutes playing not 10 minutes tightening your violin bow, btw)

When you've learned your spellings and I've tested you we'll make some cakes.

I have vivid memories of sitting at the piano with my Mum holding a bowl of smarties (for when I got it right) and a wooden spoon (for when I got it wrong). I now have a music degree, so it must work!

absolutely not. can I throw in an obstreperous 3 year old once your lot have done their homework? need a bit of peace. perhaps I should throw myself and a load of christmas presents and wrapping paper in?

Bribery and coercion works for my dd (9) - do your homework, well and neatly, and we'll put a film on and have a bag of popcorn.
Ace your spellings test and we'll have your choice for dinner and I'll pick up a comic.

Have something lovely planned that can only be taken part in once it's all finished, without hassle.

I used to play nursery rhymes and songs on my little toy piano aged three so I was given lessons but my parents never had to nag me to play. I just did because I liked it. Even scales and arpeggios and shit. My parents didn't have a clue and there were no smarties

Don't tell DD that though. She'll go on about how ballerinas don't have to know what 8 times 9 is

May I offer you the TeenagerBarrel? - my own invention. Take a barrel. Insert teenager into barrel (with homework/musical instruments as desired). Nail the lid onto the barrel. Feed teenager through the bunghole. When teenager reaches 18 years old, decide whether to let teenager out (if they have become a civilised human being), or to drive in the bung for good (if they haven't).

The TeenagerBarrel? - you saw it here first.

this cellar is really filling up

I have an 8 year old in the offing .... Have made overtures toward homework. Am going to point out that I have to di the ironing tomorrow, so he has to do homework. Dd will gave to sit at the table and pretend to do her homework too.

Otherwise Christmas is cancelled.

Or ~flash of genius~

I could go in the cellar with mnet and and forget about the ironing and Christmas

Do you have a creche in your cellar? I'm sending DS1 with his violin and handwriting practice (he can come out when he begins the letters m, n and r at the top rather than the bottom). DS2 needs a bit of cellar time to improve his writing, and frankly I could do with a few hours to get my hair cut and tidy the house, so if it's alright with you, I'll send my 14mo in to get her acclimatised for future cellar visits :o

No no NO! No adults in the cellar it is for DC only. No hiding with wrapping paper.

I once saw a house for sale which was amazing. It had a fireman's pole from the master bedroom leading to the basement which had a cheese room and wine cellar, soft-play room, stone-crafted celtic medieval inn / bar by some poncy designer.

Less said about the mirrored kitchen-breakfast bar surfaces seating twenty the better.