Lately there have been a few things going on in our house that is making me want to pull my hair out. The first thing is the constant state of the playroom. I don't mind the kids playing and having a great time, but do they really have to dump every toy they own out into the floor. One of the rules that David and I have been trying to install in our home is that the boys clean up before bedtime. This hasn't been going so well.
Another thing that drives me crazy is that they think I am made of money and can buy them toys every time we go to the grocery. So what do I do? Do I get a babysitter every time I need to shop? But that won't really teach them the lesson they obviously need to learn.
The last thing is the lack of brotherly love. Yes, there has been fighting amongst the siblings, imagine that.
This past Saturday, David and I started a new system that we are praying could be our answer, a rewards and consequences chart. Here's the deal, the boys have certain chores that they can do during the week to earn money. From now on, if they want a toy they need to do their chores and save their own money. That is the reward section. The chores are simple and age appropriate. They both have to clean their playroom and bedroom before bedtime, they both have to complete schoolwork, Judah must feed the hermit crabs, and Kaleb must feed Lady. Once a week, to earn a little extra, they can help me water plants, clean the hermit crab tank, and help me give Lady a bath.
For the consequences, I have a "naughty jar" in the kitchen with prices for bad behavior. If you are caught doing something bad like not listening or fighting for example, you must pay the piper. Let me tell you, the boys do not like loosing their money!
So far the system is working brilliantly. The boys are excited to do their chores and earn money. They have both picked out toys that they want and are counting how many weeks it will take them to earn enough money to buy them. The playroom and bedrooms have stayed clean! Mainly because they now realize they are the ones that are going to clean the messes. They now only pull out the toys they want to play with and put them back when finished. Plus they have done their best to be on good behavior because they now realize that they will loose money and ultimately put them behind on reaching their goal amount for their toys.
We had our first major consequence last night. I was giving the boys a bath using a brand new bottle of shampoo. I walked out of the room to go get them clean underwear and clothes and when I came back the entire new bottle of shampoo was dumped into the bath. I made them both put money in the jar to pay for the shampoo. It was very traumatic for them to loose $1 each, but ultimately they learned a lesson about being wasteful.
David and I are learning that once you say something you must stick to it!
