Where the Light Enters You

Written by Theresa Maria Eugenia Lang-Bruno (6/3/2018, update 9/23/2018)

The wound is the place where the light enters you. - Rumi

About 6 years ago I went through a painful awakening. I had lost one of my very best friends. In turn I was lost. I couldn’t be myself. I couldn’t function. My sweet little boys comforted me as best they could, but my husband seemed to vanish. He worked earlier AND later – I scared him. He didn’t know how to help me, he didn’t recognize me, so instead he avoided me. As one can imagine, that made it worse. As this was happening, I felt abandoned. My loss of one best friend, became the loss of two. Unfortunately, these terrible years were a necessary part of my awakening.

Looking back, I am grateful for these years. Seeds get planted in the dark, cold dirt, only to bloom – magnificent; coal becomes a diamond due to great pressure – sparkling. I became who I was meant to be through my own core struggles. I had lessons to learn, it wasn’t until I acknowledged that this was a teacher, that I was able to be free of the pain and loss. You see, it was when I learned to internalize and accept the pain instead of blaming an outside source and denying it that changes to began to happen. It was when I realized that I was the master of my fate. No one else had the power to control me. I couldn’t base who, or how I was as a person on what anyone else did  or didn’t do to, or for me. I had to be ME. I had to let things go that didn’t matter and focus on what did matter. I had to find joy in my daily life and “kill” each negative thought with AT LEAST 3 positives. I’m not going to lie – it wasn’t easy – BUT I was capable. It wasn’t just me that deserved this wonderful, beautiful life, my sweet boys deserved it too.

So one night I broke. I let myself feel it all, holding back nothing – the pain, the abandonment, soul-sucking and terrible, but beautifully glorious and then I ROSE UP. Better. Prouder. More. I became who I was meant to be all along. The ironic truth of it all, I couldn’t have gotten here without the losses.

I awoke the next morning free. Free of the baggage. Free of constant gloom. Twinges would shake me occasionally, but I now have the knowledge to overcome them. To make them fade and disappear, because negativity has no place near me. I am a source of strength, there will be no more weakness. When I was able to release all that harmful, damaging energy, I was able to view things through different eyes and focus on being the best I could be. Life-changing.

The above is relevant, because without it, I wouldn’t have been open to what came next. The wound was necessary. I share this because others need to know there is always hope, even when it seems like “the end” – it is not.

Fast-forward a couple years. I am in one of the best places I have ever been in. My husband came back to me – or rather, we came back to each other. We found a better love than we ever had. My boys are amazing and so good and kind. We’re almost done building our dream home – projecting my very dreams into a shared reality. Mind you, it’s not perfect. It’s not just mine, and I am more than happy to share it.

In December a friend of mine gave me a book. She had been at a bookstore, this book was on the wrong shelf, for some reason she was drawn to it, and knew it was meant for me. Her note told me to open to a certain page. It was an “ah-ha” moment. The reassurance that I was meant to move forward. That I was ready.

In January we meet with a fertility clinic to discuss options available to add to our family, many know that we made a “permanent” decision after our youngest son, that there would be no more. (Yes, that’s the kind of amazing love story I’m talking about.) Long story short, we started the process in March. (I’m not going to go into many details here, though I have no secrets so I’m happy to discuss in more detail with anyone interested.)  In early April I had a dream that we would receive a positive pregnancy test on my birthday (5/16), but I woke up knowing that was unlikely with everything I would have to do to prepare. The next morning, I spoke with my Dr on the phone. She gave me the details and then said, if all goes well we’ll expect to see a positive test right around 5/16. I got off the phone in a slight shock.

A single embryo transfer was done 5/2. An approximate 30% chance that this sweet little “potential” would implant. Nerve-wracking. The next day I had the most shattering headache I have ever had, with mild cramping. I knew without a doubt that this was implantation. Our 30% chance was becoming a reality. Based on that, the estimated due date would be 1/17 – Our 21-year anniversary. As I expected, we received a positive pregnancy test, with high viable numbers on my birthday. An ultrasound was scheduled for June 1^st, approximately 7 weeks along. Okay – so here I am a newly pregnant mom, every negative pregnancy story is popping up. No real symptoms besides pure exhaustion. I have a sore shoulder. I’m thinking – prepare for the worst.

The night before the appointment I have another dream.  In it this beautiful, strong, healthy girl appears, she looks right at me, crazy familiarity, and says loudly “Stop worrying, Mama! I’m staying!”. From behind her comes a second child, smaller, but still healthy, and this child yells “WE’RE staying!”. I woke up with goosebumps. The fear, disappeared, but despite how intuitive my dreams often are, I never once thought “we’re having twins”. Maybe that’s part of the lesson I’m supposed to be learning now. Trust yourself, Theresa. All the answers are there just waiting for the right question.

Anyways, I’m the type of person that visualizes the worst and the best with everything. It’s how I cope. It’s who I am. I put the dream out of my mind, didn’t even think of it again or mention it to my husband. We nervously head for our appointment. I’m feeling fine. The Dr gets me all set up for the scan, starts the procedure AND – “Um, hold on a second, it looks like there’s a surprise in here…”  Zooms out a little, there on the screen – TWO little ones, TWO hearts beating spectacularly. All I could do was laugh incredulously. I look at my husband – his eyes bulging out, deep breathing. We were not expecting this. We were not expecting this – but what a miracle! We’re in the approximately 2% of 1 embryo transfers that split! Wow! May the odds be ever in our favour. 😉

The Dr tells us that based on a 40wk pregnancy my estimated due date is 1/18, BUT twins are usually delivered around week 37. Immediately the conversation I had with my dad popped into my head. I had called on my birthday to let them know that I was indeed pregnant with grandlove #13. His response was “Awesome, Christmas babies!” I hastily corrected him; only ONE embryo was transferred, and we’ll probably have a new baby in January.  But, with delivery induced at 37 weeks it would be right about  Christmas time (12/28 to be exact).

At my 16-week appointment on 8/2 I had my first extensive ultrasound. After watching the screen with amazement, the tech asked, “So are you ready to find out the gender?” GIRLS! Without thinking I immediately started questioning her. “How long have you been doing this?” (Since the early 90s.) “How sure are you that they are girls?” (She kindly gave me a detailed tour of my unborn daughter’s spread eagle stance, stating with a wink “If they were boys there would be something here by now”.) Now at 23 weeks, I have had the “girls” verified 5 times – I think it’s about time I start to believe  we’re having our little bugga boo girls after 3 boys and 14 years.

So many coincidences, so many dates that mean something, and all unplanned.  To sum it up; estimated due date of our ‘together’ anniversary (1/17), positive test on my birthday (5/16), Dad’s little calculation mistake (babies AND around Christmas), and my amazing dream with little girl twins. The very ones I've dreamt about dice my teens. And just to add to the incredibleness of this all; I have a Christmas ornament, have had for probably 10 years, that I, for some reason, have been unable to part with. It’s an ornament with 5 kids.

The story of us. So young when we fell in love. So much to learn. So many growing pains. Our 3 boys all in their teens. The strong desire to do it again, together. That 2 little souls would find us worthy. What a rise from the ashes. What a joy. What a reason to be grateful for it all – because I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t gone through it all. If I hadn’t allowed myself to learn those tough lessons and grown with the knowledge that there is always more to learn. I am blessed with this magnificent opportunity to do this again. I am in awe. There are no words to describe – I am overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness. Blessed be. Amen.

Champion

  

See this boy. This is one of my boys. My wrestling boy. A boy I am extremely proud of. A boy who despite being my son taught me a lesson this weekend. A lesson, that honestly takes most people much longer to realize than 15 short years.

We were at the Section III Class B tournament this weekend. J was seeded #3 in his weight class. Something that surprised him, excited him, and made him proud. I joked with him "Imagine if you actually tried!" He went into the tournament head high, expecting some hard work ahead of him, but determined.

First match - piece of cake. 2nd match much the same. The score was 10-5, 5 seconds were left on the clock. With only 3 seconds left, J was put on his back. Buzzer went off at the exact same time the ref slapped the mat. Pinned.

I will never forget the look on my boy's face, or the way 2 seconds literally changed everything. He was the better wrestler, but he got caught in a position he couldn't get out of and had lost. He shook hands with the opponent, with the coaches. The anguish clearly visible. He regained his composure, walked off the mat, and into the locker room for a few minutes to himself.

I have seen so many wrestlers lose their cool at this point, the disappointment he felt must have been massive, yet he held his head high as he shook hands and left the mat. Despite the sadness I felt for him, I couldn't help but feel a pang of pride.

The true character of a man is shown under adversity.

He went on to place 4th in the tournament - he took 6th last year as a primarily JV wrestler, so not bad for a Sophomore. He will wrestle in the Section III Wrestling Championships this weekend.

My dad always said that wrestling taught life lessons that nothing else could. As a wrestler, you were part of a team, who counted on you, but also, an individual, who could have goals and stats that far outranked any team you were on. The best of both worlds - team player and independent.

As his mother, my heart hurt over the loss, over 2 seconds. Days later I still couldn't wrap my head around it, so when I caught J alone in the kitchen I brought up the tournament. I told him that I was still having a hard time understanding what had happened, and couldn't imagine how it felt for him. He looked at me and said, "It's not even going to matter in few years." He didn't say it like it didn't matter, he said it like he accepted it for what it was and was okay with it. I realized then that he had been listening all these years. No amount of dwelling on how much it literally sucked, the outcome would never be different. Accept, improve, be better next time.

Here was my boy, taking a curve ball like the champion he is. Being a champion doesn't always mean you place first. Being a champion means that you can overcome any obstacle life throws you. It means you hold your head high and accept yourself fully.

See this boy. He's my boy, and he's a champion.

It's finally Spring - a memory from 2014

A railroad track runs through the small woods behind our home. On one side, trees, on the other wetlands, and a field. At springtime everything is coming alive. The grass, fresh & green. The flowers beginning to bud. Birds singing their cheerful songs. Tadpoles and polliwogs swimming in their muck. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the delicious Spring air. Turning my gaze to the small boy at my side I smiled. Peace & gratefulness filled my entire being, as I realized he was taking in the amazing beauty of the day with the same awe and reverence. He saw me looking at him, a sparkle shone in his eyes as he said "It's finally Spring, isn't it Mom!"  I nodded as he happily grabbed my hand and declared "Let's run!"

How Long

His smell, his sounds
The look in his eyes
His lips, his taste
The way that he sighs

He’s here, he’s back
“Thank you God” I pray
He sees me, he hears me
We laugh and we play

He can feel my pain
I don’t have to be strong
I can let it all go
I was alone for so long

He kisses my lips
His hand caresses my thigh
With love and longing
His gaze burns into mine

I’m safe, I’m loved
The tears run free
Protective walls crumble down
He whispers his sweet promises to me

I will never again be abandoned
I will not be swept aside
He will stay here with me
He will never again hide

He will not sneak away
To the lonely space in his mind
A place where I’m not welcomed
A place I can’t find

I yearn to believe him
To always feel safe
I wish to stay forever
In his loving embrace

For now he is mine
For now I can breathe
I make love to him fiercely
My heart ache relieved

I can relish in the ecstacy
of being intoxicated with his being
I can’t waste even one moment
I can’t miss a thing... 

I can’t bear the thought of waking
And seeing emptiness in his eyes
To feel the love snatched away
To again choke down bitter cries

I can’t bare the anguish
Of seeing his face
When all that was there
Is just dead and gone, no trace

Will it be the dreaded end?
Or will he once again find his way home?
How long will next time take?
How long will I be alone?

Alone with empty promises
That I fear are all just lies
To keep me endlessly waiting
For the love to return to his eyes

But this time he came home
And he’s mine, he’s here, I’m safe
Maybe this time he won’t go back
To his dark and lonely place.

Then he leaves...

within grasp

I had 2 dreams.

In one dream the ab-so-lute man of my dreams was there. I can't even describe him because it was more of a sense than anything. Except the eyes. Those eyes that looked into my depths, and I knew in that second who he was. It could be you.

In the second dream we were best friends again, and in that dream I looked into your eyes and saw your depths. In those depths I found everything I ever needed, and in that second I knew that all the pain was so worth it just to see you smile again.

After those 2 dreams all I could think about was Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken".

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down as far as I could

But then I started thinking - what if they were one and the same? One path

. 

But then I remembered  - You opened the door and did not want to take the steps to close it. Two paths.

Oh, how I wish my dreams would be one reality.

To have it all within grasp, but to not reach out and take it is sad indeed.

Unfortunately - one alone can't create a dream for two.

I have finally realized what I need from you.

There is no way around it - because the very same thing that pulls me from you, draws me towards you.

You hurt me. You hurt me to the very core of everything I thought - believed - we had.

When you chose to run away and hide from the sad, hard reality I was facing all those years ago, you took with you all the things about you I held so dear. 

You abandoned me. 

You left me, not only to overcome this deep heart-wrenching loss, but also to fend for myself and our children. 

Alone.

You know all this. I have no need to bring up details or open up old wounds.
The problem is that despite my being able to forgive you, and yes, move forward in most ways - I have never received the acknowledgement from you that this did indeed happen. 

Though you have said your "sorrys" and apologized, I have never felt it sincerely. No changes were ever made to make it right. No actions were taken to show me you'd try your hardest not to let it happen again.

What's more, you have never taken the time to fully realize how absolutely destructive this loss of you - when you were needed the very most - was to me, to our relationship. 

I have grown stronger, wiser, perhaps somewhat intimidating, but there is no going backwards for me.

Because my heart is still so raw from this lack of recognition, I see you and it stings.

You, who are so incredibly capable, and even claim that you want the same love story I do - but broken, stubborn, unwilling to be uncomfortable in the slightest - even if it means you loose the woman you claim to cherish more than anything.

It's incomprehensible to me. I do not get it.

_______________________________________________

I see you're drowning, so I throw you this life-saving rope, however, because I'm the one who threw it, you refuse to accept, and instead are pulled under by the current. I stand on the shore baffled and saddened by the loss of you. I am not sure you'll resurface, and reach for the rope, or if I've lost you forever. Either way, I stay watching, hoping - just in case. Unfortunately, I've been standing on this shore, tears streaming down my face, for far to long already and maybe I need to accept the reality is, you will not.

Indulge me

There comes a time in life when you realize that you want someone there for it all. 

That, at the end of the day you just want someone  you can build a complete full life with.

Someone who is there for the simple, sometimes stupid, mundane everyday tasks.
Someone who knows your story, and loves you anyway.
Someone who knows your dreams, and wants to help you achieve them.

With that said; please let me in.

I want to know everything.

I want to know all about your past and all about your future.

I want to know what makes you tick. What makes you cry.

Tell me what you’d like to do on a rainy day.
Or on a vacation with friends.
Or when you’re confused and aren’t sure how to muddle through.

I want to know what hurt you so immensely that you thought you would never breath again, and what made you laugh so hard you ended up with that very same result.

I want you to share your wishes with me, your dreams, your goals… even your regrets.

I want you to be willing to break yourself wide open in the most vulnerable, naked way.
I will do the same for you.

Imagine the relief, the weight lifted from our shoulders, when we are standing there with no secrets, with no shame – raw, true. Perfectly imperfect. Magic.
And blessed beyond measure because despite it all fully accepted and loved.

I want you. I want to know you. All of you.

I want to know what you’re afraid of and what keeps holding you back from your potential.

I want to know about your first real crush and first real heartbreak.
I want to know who your best friend was growing up and what your favorite thing to do was.

Indulge me. Spill it all.

I want to know what you believe in, and why you think it’s true.
I want to know if, like me, you sometimes just seem to know.

Step out of your comfort zone and I think that you will find, not only the friend that you’ve been missing, but the love you thought you lost.

I am magic, so are you - I will show you how to fly, if you'll finally show me your wings.

If that’s too much for you, that’s too little for me.

Once in a Lifetime(?)

When you go through life you create your dream, looking back may at times make you feel as though what you were living was not in fact reality - but it was for you. It was your dream, and there can be no regrets in that. Love is blind and accepting.
Sometimes two dreamers continue on, making their dream together, but there are also times when those dreamers start a different dream, one that may change the reality that was known for so long, which causes us to see that what we thought was there, was not always there for the other. Each person's perception of the same event can be startlingly different.  

This was a dream I had one night, but I awoke before I could find out what happened, and in my grogginess I too felt stuck.

_______________________________________________________

Once upon a time there was a young girl who fell in love. That alone, isn't what makes this story special. There are many stories in which a young girl falls in love. What makes this story special is that this love was a special kind of love. A once in a lifetime, kind of love. A love so deep that when it was returned there was nothing that it couldn't accomplish.

The young girl herself was a little different.  She didn't see people in their physical form. When she looked into someone's eyes, she immediately saw their soul and glimpsed a part of them that they might not even know existed. She knew the human form was limited, flawed, and fragile. She knew the soul was boundless, perfect, and strong. The soul was there to learn and grow, to become more, while the body was only a temporary vessel.

This girl seemed self-conscience or timid to many who knew her, even to the point that occasionally she seemed conceited or egotistical. In reality, she felt to deeply, cared to much, and couldn't bear to be out in the world without her guard up. The arrogance of the world hurt her. Though, at the same time, she knew everything was as it was supposed to be, and that she had to accept it.

One day she met a young boy, he was awkward, but full of laughter. His eyes seemed to twinkle, and when he smiled the edges of them crinkled making his whole face light up. The moment she saw him, she knew there was something special about him. She knew that someday there would be significance in their chance meeting.

Some years past, before they met again. Every once in a while, she would think of him and remember the smile that lit up his face, so when she saw him again she recognized him instantly.

It was the year the town decided to host a picnic. All the local villages were invited. The menu was planned and the festivities scheduled. The girl and her best friend headed to the stage area to watch a band perform. As the singer sang, and the guitarist strummed the girl noticed the boy playing on the drums. When the song ended he glimpsed up and their eyes met. There was the twinkle she remembered! She felt a blush come to her cheeks. When the set ended he came over to her. The rest of the night was a blur of laughter, fun, and getting to know each other.

Though he lived a village over, the two became inseparable. If they weren't together they were thinking of each other. Their parents would sometimes become annoyed or try to limit their interactions. All that did was make them yearn for each other more. Their families had different principles they lived by, which made it difficult for the families to accept each other. Though the girl saw the kindness in both, what really made her pursue the boy was the connection she felt to his core. She knew he was so much more than what her parents saw.

When the girl looked at this boy she saw who he really was - kind, caring and loving, devoted to her, a hard-worker, who wasn't afraid to fight for what he wanted. His laughter was contagious. There was rarely a time he wasn't smiling, and if he wasn't he had good reason. She felt she could tell him anything. They were friends. He was a rock on which she could build a future. So she did. She put her trust in what she saw physically and felt internally. She gave him her heart.

They married. As the years past they bought a house, had children, and built a life together. The two of them stayed close. Though sometimes the tension of life got to them, they had each other. As soon as they climbed into bed at night the stress seemed to melt away and they were there, in their special place, just the two of them. Nothing else mattered because they had each other and that was the most important thing of all. They made plans for their future and set some goals.

As part of these plans, the boy began working longer and longer hours. The girl ran the household and raised the children. This was in an effort to reach their goals as quickly as possible. Though the boy was becoming more and more absent, the girl did her best to understand where he was coming from. He had a family to provide for, a goal they had set together. He always came home when the work was done. She was strong and independent; she was happy to pick up the slack because their love was steadfast. But she missed him.

The children would sometimes ask about him or comment on how they missed him, and she made sure they understood he loved them; that he was working hard so that they could have all they wanted. The two still went out together occasionally. They still touched. But as the time past, and the children grew, the boy's absence affected them all. Though it hurt right now, the girl knew deep down he’d come around. She knew who he was, she was sure of it.

Then the unthinkable happened. The girl received news that her best friend was very sick. She rushed to be by her friend’s side, but was too late. She remembered touching her friend's hand one more time; saying goodbye. The rest was a blur.

Somehow the girl was home. Her children were there with her, each of them sad, tears trickling down their cheeks. This made it worse. The girl felt their pain as well as her own. She broke into sobs. Then quickly regained herself, deciding right then and there that she would be a strong for her children. After they have gone to bed, she thought, then I can have my moment to weep, and he will be there to hold me. He was.

This was the very first time the girl had ever lost someone close to her. It was the first time there would be no tomorrow with her precious friend in it. The girl sank into a depression, the sadness overwhelming her. She couldn't function. She did the best she could with her children, but the house became cluttered and the minimum was done each day. She knew she was wrong. She knew she had to shake this, but no matter how she tried the despair had it's grasp on her, and it would not let her go. The girl expected the boy to help her. If nothing else, to at least be there, to help her pull out of this gloom and be happy again. She needed his touch, his smile. It didn't happen though, instead she scared him. He had never seen her this way, so weak and inconsolable; so he left whenever he could, with whatever excuse he could find.

She noticed the boy’s smile had faded. Instead of his face lighting up when he saw her, his eyes would barely catch her own. The girl felt his distance. It hurt. She would try her hardest to be strong. To make him happy, to show him how loved and appreciated he was. Instead of this having her desired effect, it seemed to annoy him, in turn he gave minimally and avoided her even more.

She was stuck wondering what she had done to him, while also mourning the loss of her friend. Despite that, she somewhat understood how unnerving she must be. She felt lost and betrayed but began to do her best to pull herself up. The connection she had with the boy was strained and confusing… She felt as if she had lost two people at once.

The girl did not want to give up. She made the decision to become the best she could be. She knew she had to re-find herself and not be dependent on anyone else. This changed her. Everything she had known was gone; so she focused her mind on self-discovery, and poured her heart into her children and the things that made her happy.

She had her moments of misery; the boy was the one thing that always filled her heart with happiness. Though at this time she realized she had to set that aside for now, until a time when he was ready to be hers again. As much as she missed him, she knew deep down that forcing him to be a part of her life wasn’t really what she wanted or needed. She wanted to be his choice, otherwise, it wouldn’t be the real authentic love she had thought they had.

So she waited, impatiently, but waiting just the same. Praying that the promises and “I love you’s” that fell from his lips would be true soon… 

Quicksand

When reality hit me, it came careening out of nowhere and stabbed me right in the chest. It left me stunned. It left me unsure. It switched my blind-eye on immediately. The things I saw - scary, surreal, lovely. The sounds; amazing, but intense. It took me a couple months to balance. The senses constantly tingling. I felt so fidgety. It was hard to concentrate as I adjusted. Once I did a doorway was opened that I would never allow to close again. It was as if I had awakened in a dream. 

I began to realize that it was my dream. That I controlled it, sort of. Things still happened that were out of my control, however my reaction mattered more than anything else did. It was a choice for me to be happy or sad. It was choice to move forward or stay stagnant. 

The hard part of coming to this reality, this conclusion, is that while you may be ready and willing to move yourself forward to a better self, a better place, those around you may not be ready or willing. This stagnation I so dreaded, seemed to be the place that some belonged, and my foot is caught in their quicksand.

There are some I want to grab hold of and shake, screaming into their faces "OPEN YOUR EYES". I do not. I can not. The reality is here, but I cannot make you see it. I try to slowly pull my foot from their indifference. Yet it's hard to let go. So I sit here choking, as the knowledge that is in me fights with the broken heart I've tried so hard to keep bandaged and protected. 

I will keep whispering of truths. I will keep becoming stronger. I will dedicate myself to rising above and being the best me I can be. I cannot promise you much longer, as I am almost free, but I do pray you find it in yourself to one day be all you were meant to be.

Mom doesn't equal Maid

This is because I am starting to feel like a maid, and I am not one. I am happy to keep things running smoothly and do things for people, but I feel you are all starting to take advantage. Since everyone in this house is past the age of diaper changes, here are some new rules that, as responsible, strong, well-educated people, like those living in this house, should be able to handle.

1. LAUNDRY:
   All dirty clothes need to be placed in the hamper in your room if you want them washed. No clothing should be balled-up or inside-out (e.g. underwear or shorts intricately entwined in your pants - NOT OKAY!) If you can't handle this rule, you will be in charge of your own laundry washing/dying. If you happen to notice clean laundry folded in the livingroom, please put it away as soon as it is noticed! I should not have to remind you to put away your own things; especially when I have already cleaned, dried, folded, and separated it into each individual's own pile in an effort to make each of your lives easier! If you think that this isn't a lot of work, please feel free to do it all on your own. If clean laundry isn't promptly put away, you will do it all!
2. LIVINGROOM:
   If you open a reclining chair, close it when you get up! If you throw pillows on the floor to make room for yourself, pick them up when you are done in the room! If you use a blanket, fold it and put it away when you are done with it... none of these actions are difficult! Small room = looks dirty easily. Please help me to keep our home looking good!
3. DISHES:
   After using any dishes/bowls/cups you are to rinse them out and set them on the counter to the right of the sink or in the dishwasher. When rinsing, you are not allowed to rinse directly into the bowl that I keep in the sink with soapy water for soaking silverware. I'm sure you can all handle dumping the rinse water to the side of the bowl, instead of into it. Speaking of which, the only thing allowed in the sink is this bowl with soapy water with any other silverware you have used placed in it. No more dishes on top of dishes in a huge pile, with who knows what sticking to them and smelly. If that is to continue you will each be in charge of washing your own dishes dishes as soon as you are done using them!
4. RECYCLABLES (bottles, cans, boxes, etc):
   There are only 2 places recyclables belong - in the blue bin or in the can return bag. Both of these are in the garage. Recyclables do NOT belong in or by the kitchen sink, they do NOT belong on the counter or by the garage door and they do NOT belong in the trash. They are recyclable, not garbage and only belong in one of the 2 places listed above EACH and every time you have one, not occasionally. EVERY FREAKING TIME!
5. BATHROOM:
   A) If you pee on the toilet seat wipe it up, if you pee ANYWHERE other than the giant hole filled with water, WIPE IT UP!
   B) If you cut/shave/brush your hair  - CLEAN IT UP! All of it! You are responsible for each and every little strand! This probably means wiping down the entire sink and vanity, including the lifting of items on the vanity, because I'm sure your hair is under and between it all.
   C) When you brush your teeth make sure all your spit/phlegm/grossness and toothpaste is rinsed down the drain. If it doesn't easily rinse down the sink, it is your job to wipe it out of the sink... DUH! Toothpaste and toothbrushes should always be put back in the drawer when you are done with them, and the drawer should be CLOSED. This is to prevent all those nasty bathroom germs away from and off of the items we put in our mouths multiple times a day. Rocket science!
   D) After a shower make sure the plug is pushed down after, so that the next person to take a shower doesn't get soaked by an automatic shower as soon as the water is turned on. Clean any hairs out of the drain filter and rinse any dirt or bubbles down the drain when you are done.
   E) If you clip your nails you also must remove the clipping from the vanity, sink, floor... actually, remove them from absolutely everywhere they may land, except the trash can, which is pretty close to where the clippers are kept so it shouldn't be all that difficult.
6. ANIMALS:
   Make sure all animals are fed and watered daily. If you make a mess in the process of doing this you need to clean up the mess you made. They are unable to take care of any of this on their own and we are responsible to make sure they have what they need every day. Just because you took care of your animals doesn't mean someone else should be taking care of your mess. (e.g. cat food overflowed to the floor or a trail of water from refilling water bowls.)
7. SNOW STUFF/SUMMER STUFF:
   A) WINTER: There are 2 containers in the kitchen. The bag holds little things like gloves and hats, the basket holds big things like snow-pants and coats. When you go out do not tear apart this system, leaving the mess for me to clean up. Find your stuff, put back what you don't need, and move on. When you come inside from the snow put anything that is damp/wet in a pile for the dryer, and put anything still dry in the storage container it belongs in.
   B) SPRING/SUMMER/FALL: Flip-flops, sneakers, peeled off socks, wet towels, toys, yard tools - all have a spot to go in! This 'spot' isn't littered all over the yard and house. Socks do not belong balled up and lingering on the trampoline, or in the yard, or by the backdoor. Then I hear complaints of "I don't have any socks", you are the reason for this and I will not buy new ones. Wet towels should be hung on the deck. All toys/balls/etc. should be put in the tote on the deck when you are done with them. Yard tools (shovels, rakes, etc) should be put in garage or at least brought up to the door and leaned against the house. Absolutely none of these things should be left all over the yard, creating a mad rush to clean up when it is time to mow the lawn.

We have a small house and one mess can easily make it look disastrous! Please do your part to keep our home clean and comfortable. When we take care of the little things as they happen, it means no one will have to spend hours cleaning up a huge mess of multiple little messes all piled on top of each other.

End rant... for now. :p