Colors

My children have color issues. They have to HAVE the color they want all the time, but they aren't necessarily consistent.

A long time ago, Ruth liked green. She had to have her dishes and crayons and such be green. Then she decided yellow was a better color. Everything needed to be yellow. Until, her friend told her that yellow was an ugly color. Of course, she could not have anything yellow at that point.

A few months later, Kate turned two and loved blue. Kate had to have everything blue. Blue, clothing, blue dishes, blue crayons, and markers-- nothing but blue. After a couple of days of Kate having to have everything blue. Ruth declared that it was not fair because she liked blue too. Now Ruth had to have EVERYTHING blue. Every morning there was a war over the blue sippy cup. Eventually, I just bought all blue dishes, extra blue paint, crayons, markers, etc., and mainly all blue clothes for both girls-- not that easy. This settled things except Kate switched back and forth on which was the best shade of blue.

About a year later, Ruth decided blue was not the only color. She liked all of the colors. When people asked Ruth what her favorite color was, Ruth would respond, "rainbow". Nice. Now I had to have rainbow things around to avoid the "wrong color breakdown".

As Johnny got older, he decided all colors were good to like. Ruth did not like this. "All of the colors" belonged to her. Eventually, Johnny settled for black, brown, and green, but he always had to have blue dishes. At least he would wear multiple colors of clothing without much trouble.

When Adam came of age. He chose yellow. Everyone was okay with this because it did not infringe on anyone else's color choices. Later, Rachel chose pink. We were good as long as some one didn't set the wrong color of dishes at the wrong person's seat at the table.

Over a year ago, we began having color problems again. First Anya chose pink as a favorite color. Rachel was miffed. Pink was HER color. However, Anya didn't care about what Rachel thought. She liked pink. Anya had to have all pink clothes, all pink dishes, all pink crayons, and any available pink food. Rachel rebelled. She no longer liked pink. Rachel had to have everything blue. If you gave Rachel anything pink, she would have a "wrong color breakdown". Kate was unhappy again because Rachel was taking HER color. Kate was 11!

At the same time, Adam started kindergarten with a whole slew of yellow shirts. After about 3 weeks of kindergarten, Adam decided yellow was not his favorite color anymore. Adam had a to have blue. So now, I had 4 kids that would cry if they did not get blue dishes. I had to buy more dishes (I had to anyway, but still.)

Now, one year later, Anya does not like pink anymore. If you give Anya anything pink she will have a "wrong color breakdown". So what do you think? Rachel suddenly likes pink again. If you do not get Rachel the pink plate you are in trouble. Anya now has to have yellow or green. Most of our yellow and green dishes had become cat dishes because no one else would eat from them.

We have had one more change too. Since Adam has been home schooling, guess what? He likes yellow again. Only this time, he does not call it yellow. He calls it "gold".

Indeed, my kids have color issues. As a child, when I would do something that bugged my mom, she would say, "I can't wait until your kids do this to you." I haven't felt that much, but, I won't mind my grandchildren getting revenge for me on this issue.