The Punishment

So today William came running up stairs and informed me that Joseph and Michael were making a mess in the bathroom. So I said very loudly, as I was walking down the stairs, " they better not be because they will be in big trouble".
Even with this loud warning they were still up to no good when I looked into the bathroom. Well I had had it. These two boys, especially Joseph, had been making messes like crazy for the last week or so. So I gave them both a sound spanking (I know I have repented of this and I have fallen back into a routine of doing it again. I am trying, once again, not to spank anymore) and sent them to bed for the night (it was 4pm). They were very worried that that wouldn't get dinner so I informed them that I would be bringing them PB & J sandwiches for dinner.
As I walked away and started cooling down I came to realize that this is as much of a punishment for me as it would be for them. Joseph would most likely fall asleep pretty quickly. Then would sleep for who knows how long and wake up either at bed time or the middle of the night and start waking everyone else up, because he is good that way. Also they would most likely get PB&J all over their blankets (because they are messy) and I would have to clean there blankets.
So I came up with a new punishment. I told them to get into the bathroom because they were going to scrub down the whole thing. I got them into rubber gloves and put them to work scrubbing the shower. With in seconds I hear giggling. Then Joseph says "this is so fun". Arrgg. These boys can turn anything into a game. I remind them that this IS a Punishment and it IS not Fun and there will be no giggling. I few seconds later "hey brother lets trade sponges that will be fun". I give up. At least they are cleaning and not laying on the floor crying. We made our way to the sink then to the toilet. Which, for some reason, was even more fun then the shower. They loved scrubbing the inside with the brush and wiping down the whole outside with cloths. But I finally got them when I made them wipe down the whole floor. They didn't like that. I informed them that they will be cleaning the bathroom once a week until they can stop making messes (they didn't like that idea).
So even though this didn't turn out to be the awful punishment I wanted it to be. I did get my bathroom clean (they did a surprisingly good job with little help from me). And I think they realized they don't want to make messes anymore because they informed William and Isabelle if they make messes they are going to have to help clean the bathroom then all four of them get to clean together (I think they were trying to talk them into it, then that it would be fun to have them their). Silly boys.