Getting Organized!!

Before school got out for summer break I wanted to be ready and organized.  My kids thrive on structure ... and so do I.  Craig and I are currently reading 3 Steps to a Strong Family by Linda & Richard Eyre.  I love their ideas and wanted to implement them with our family.  We decided to do a family night redoing our family rules and the kid's responsibility charts.  It has been 2 years and they needed updating.  They are now framed and hanging on the wall so everyone knows what they are and we are all on the same page.  We are letting the punishment fit the crime and trying to have consequences be more natural and we are making a huge effort to not lose our patience or tempers and our kids are responding very well to these changes.  Now if someone hurts someone's feelings they have to apologize and say something nice about that person.  They lose their privileges until they do so.  If they hurt someone physically then they owe that person an act of service.  I've never seen Jace be able to think of so many nice things to say about Brooke before.  lol!  If they are irreverent during church meeting then they owe a lesson that they give on the same topic when we get home.  :)  Jace still forgets and says mean things sometimes ... especially when he loses his temper but at least he's apologizing and remembering to say nice things to make up for the mean ones.

 

With the kids responsibility charts they used to earn money for every task completed but I found that they were still having a hard time being motivated to do everything or even look at their chart.  Sadly for them I have found that they (Jace) is more motivated by privileges taken away more than earning money for tasks completed so this time around we decided to have things that they are responsible for and that they need to accomplish before they are able to have privileges such as: playing with friends, treats, t.v., iphone, computer, etc.  It has worked better than anything else I have ever tried with them.  I just had to be very consistent in the beginning.  They quickly get their chores done in the morning: Brush teeth, vitamins/ green smoothie/ fish oil, personal prayer/ personal scripture study, clean bedroom, clean kid's bathroom or entryways, and pick up their things/messes around the house.  I don't have to say anything more than, "is everything marked off on your chart?"  and then check their work.  I printed off  checklist charts for the bathroom and their bedroom if they get stuck and don't remember where to start.  I found Brooke was constantly asking "what do I do next."  They just look at the chart now.  We also did a Work For Hire weekly chores that they can choose to do if they want to earn some money.  Things have been running smoothly.  I was a little worried about having all 4 home all the time and that my life would become complete chaos but it hasn't.  I have just enjoyed spending time with them.  Life is good.