Tutoring Needed

I can get so discouraged when I come upon another example of HOW MUCH CHILDREN HAVE TO BE TAUGHT. Why do my children not know that you have to wash between your toes? Why don’t they know that powdered laundry detergent has to be mixed with water before you add the clothes? Why do they think it’s okay to drink dirty sink water? Do I have to tell them EVERYTHING??

Occasionally, though, I discover a childhood lesson I myself failed to learn. Here is one I am hoping you can help me with.

1) You wake up in the morning.
2) There are cookies in the house.
3) You do not eat them for breakfast.

I don’t see how this works.

45 thoughts on “Tutoring Needed

  1. Welcome to our World

    Okay this is funny to me because I baked a fresh batch of Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies last night (of which I ate five – had to test one from each batch, right?!) And this morning I brought some with me to work for a snack you know later in the day… UMMM, yeah I am eating them for breakfast so I guess I have to tell you EAT THEM, 1st thing, for breakfast b/c OMG they are delightful at this hour ;)

    Reply
  2. Welcome to our World

    Okay this is funny to me because I baked a fresh batch of Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies last night (of which I ate five – had to test one from each batch, right?!) And this morning I brought some with me to work for a snack you know later in the day… UMMM, yeah I am eating them for breakfast so I guess I have to tell you EAT THEM, 1st thing, for breakfast b/c OMG they are delightful at this hour ;)

    Reply
  3. Welcome to our World

    Okay this is funny to me because I baked a fresh batch of Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies last night (of which I ate five – had to test one from each batch, right?!) And this morning I brought some with me to work for a snack you know later in the day… UMMM, yeah I am eating them for breakfast so I guess I have to tell you EAT THEM, 1st thing, for breakfast b/c OMG they are delightful at this hour ;)

    Reply
  4. Mommy Daisy

    That is so funny. I never learned that either. I remember eating cookies for breakfast as a kid too. I made yummy oatmeal scotchies this morning. I forgot about them until after breakfast, then I saw them and though ‘Oh, I should have had THAT for breakfast. Maybe I’ll have one now anyway.’ Then I read this post 1/2 hour later. Too funny!

    Reply
  5. Tessie

    Wait, you have to mix powdered detergent with water first? I am so serious when I say I DID NOT KNOW THAT. Good thing I haven’t yet succumbed to the urge to buy one of those 5-gallons drums of it at Costco. This sounds like a lot of work.

    Reply
  6. Jess

    I don’t understand. Why is that wrong? When I was in elementary school, I would spend the night at my best friend’s house and we would always have things like macaroni and cheese or leftover pizza for breakfast. Cookies sounds like a step in the right direction, frankly.

    Reply
  7. Swistle

    Tessie- Well, not mix it with water like…reconstituting it or something. But, like, I let the washer fill for a minute, then add the detergent and swish it around, then add the clothes. …But suddenly I am wondering…is this just something my parents taught me, but it doesn’t actually need to be done? That’s kind of an alarming thought!

    Reply
  8. LoriD

    On the weekend I made cookies with oatmeal AND rice krispies in them. If that’s not breakfast, what is? I also find that if cookies are on the counter, I eat them if they are in a cupboard or freezer, they have no power over me.

    Also – did not know that about powdered laundry detergent. I mean, it totally makes sense, but it’s not something I ever learned.

    Reply
  9. Pixie

    I think the best time of day to eat cookies is in the morning, this way you have all day to burn off what few calories they may have contained…right???
    Also in a completely unrelated question maybe you might be able to tell me, what happened to wantnot.net??? It’s been gone all week, this makes me sad.

    Reply
  10. Alice

    pixie: HAAAA i like your thinking.

    considering i ate 2 reeses peanut butter cups for breakfast today, i’m in no position to offer any assistance.

    Reply
  11. Di

    Does no on remember the classic Bill Cosby bit,

    “Dad is great,
    He gives us chocolate cake”?

    Where he fed his kids chocolate cake for breakfast???

    Swistle, m’dear, can I link to you?

    Reply
  12. K in the Mirror

    To me that’s one of those things that make kids stomp their feet and say, “When I’m grownup I’m doing whatever I want!”

    I totally eat that stuff for breakfast, but I don’t let my daughter do it.

    Reply
  13. Swistle

    LoriD- Oh, but a frozen Oatmeal Scotchie is even MORE crisp and delicious!

    Pixie- I know!! What happened to WantNot? I’m hoping it’s just a colossal server problem or something, rather than that the site is gone.

    Di- Oh, I LOVE that routine! Also, yes, of course, I’d love if you linked to me!

    Reply
  14. jen

    I had a spoonful of peanut butter, some coke and a blow pop for breakfast today. If oatmeal is ok for breakfast, and raisin bran is ok for breakfast, then so is an oatmeal cookie, I say.

    Reply
  15. Melospiza

    Breakfast is usually one of the few times I don’t want cookies–unless they’re sitting right out there on the counter, just kind of smiling at me, saying something cheery like “wouldn’t I fit so nicely in your mouth right now?” or “what’s a cup of coffee without something sweet?”

    Anyways, what I wanted to post on was the vital question of powdered detergent, whether to mix with water beforehand or not, because I have intimate experience with learning about this the hard way (think clumps of undigested detergent on clothes). It depends on the water temperature, and the kind/ quality of washer you have. Cold water tends not to dissolve that detergent very well. Also, front loading washers, or washers where you put the soap in some other container=not really a problem.

    There. Wisdom of Melospiza. *brushes hands*

    Reply
  16. Misty

    Whoa. *Bright Flash* Epiphany.

    For my whole entire life, we have never ever put the detergent in before to dissolve it.

    *Sniff* *Sniff*

    Do I stink?

    Reply
  17. Katie

    I also never knew you had to mix the powder with the water. but, WHY?

    Also, nothing wrong with cookies for breakfast. I am the type that I cannot pass up chips if they are in the house. Chips for breakfast at my house!!!

    Reply
  18. The Wife

    The way I see it, it depends on what kind of cookies you’re contemplating for breakfast.

    Do they have oatmeal in them? Flour, eggs? Dried fruit like raisins or cranberries? They’re practically a granola bar! It’s HEALTHY. Go for it.

    Also, Pixie is completely right. First thing in the morning is really the *smartest* time to eat cookies.

    Reply
  19. Whimsy

    If they make those things called BREAKFAST COOKIES, then I figure ANY cookie is okay to eat for breakfast. Besides, a Pop Tart? Is that really more healthy than a cookie? I think not.

    I’m totally on board – cookies for breakfast, all around.

    Reply
  20. alyce

    In a top loading washer, I always put my soap in first and then start the water. I do this for liquid or powered soap. I figure it’s like hot chocolate mix – it will dissolve fastest with hot water, and will require more agitation if using cold water.

    Also, cookies are totally for breakfast. What’s the difference between pancakes and a cookie, fat- and calorie-wise? Not much.

    Also, I was told that if you break a cookie in half all of the calories will run out.

    Reply
  21. Phat Phannie

    You are on the right track with the detergent. I use liquid now, but grew up on powdered. If you don’t let it mix with the water first it ends up in clumps on your clothes. I do it with liquid too, just because.

    Oh and the cookies for breakfast? TOTALLY normal. In fact, if I make a cake, that’s usually what I’ll have for breakfast for at least two days.

    Reply
  22. MrsGrumpy

    In my house they are the breakfast of Champions! Well, at least the breakfast of schleppy, tired, half dressed moms with stringy hair and an attitude problem.

    Reply
  23. Brooke

    My Mom taught me to start the water and then immediately add the detergent, and then the clothes. I use liquid because powdered was always leaving chalky streaks on darks. Probably because of the cold water I wash darks with.

    The other thing Mom taught me that my husband hasn’t learned is, after you dump the cup of liquid detergent into the washer, use the water rushing into the washer to rinse the cup a few times.

    Reply
  24. Pann

    on the topic of how much do I have to teach these kids?!

    I remember when my eldest came home from daycare spouting knowledge that hadn’t come from me.

    From that moment on, I was SO ADDICTED to sending my kids to childcare. What a freeking relief!

    Reply
  25. amber

    Neither do I. I’m supposed to be laying off the snacks (junk food) because our dress alterations for my sister’s wedding are fast approaching, and I just want to stuff wonderful holiday goodies in my mouth until I bloat beyond recognition.

    Reply
  26. Anonymous

    Swistle-
    It DOES have to be mixed…if you don’t the clothes get all icky. But you don’t have to put the water first, then detergent, then swish. Put detergent first and then start the water and it dissolves right in and you don’t have to get your hands dirty.

    Reply
  27. Vicky

    Cookies for breakfast are wonderful. I recently had a birthday and I think it is perfectly ok to have birthday cake for breakfast too. Granted I hid the fact I ate it for breakfast from my 2 year old daughter.

    Reply
  28. Kelsey

    I am also in favor of rice krispie treats for breakfast. And now I’m suddenly sad that I lack rice krispies and marshmallow or I would be making some now. Time for the grocery store!

    Reply
  29. nanann

    Hmm, I have always used powdered detergent but never wait to add the clothes — it’s too much trouble!

    If you don’t add the clothes first, how do you know what size load you have? Is it large or extra large? what is it??? I must get the settings right!

    (I might be lucky, and usually wash in warm, but no detergent clumps and even my daughter’s much-stained clothes get clean.)

    Reply
  30. 1hot&tiredmama

    My mom says you’re just supposed to tell the children not to eat cookies before breakfast and then don’t let them see you eating them!

    Reply
  31. 1hot&tiredmama

    My mom says you’re just supposed to tell the children not to eat cookies before breakfast and then don’t let them see you eating them!

    Reply
  32. 1hot&tiredmama

    My mom says you’re just supposed to tell the children not to eat cookies before breakfast and then don’t let them see you eating them!

    Reply

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