The scenario: My kids are quite normal in leaving things around the house and I have a history of nagging them until they get things picked up. Occasionally I have thrown away things (with ample warning) that they have been particularly negligent about. They know that my nagging could produce the same result, so they eventually do what they are supposed to do. They know I am serious.
The problems:
1) I'm tired of nagging. Period. End of statement.
2) They could care less if I threw away a wet towel or other such item that they have no personal interest in.
3) DGD will be crawling in a few months and I foresee big problems from the legos, cards, nail polish, etc... that seem to move around at will around our house.
My new plan:
(Read this as if you are one of my wonderfully precious children. Read it with a bit of a sarcastic tone and an slight evil eye. Read it with resolve. Read it dripping with maternal love & affection.)
You will have plenty of opportunities to pick up your belongings and other household items that you use. You know where they go and if you forget, I will cheerfully answer your questions about proper placements. You will even gain "extra credit" for taking the initiative to ask!
If I find it necessary to pick up your items, you will be required to do chores to pay your "fine". The time and choice of such chores are up to me, not you. I will keep that item and you will not get it back until you pay the fine attached to it. If is an item that you don't care about (wet towels, etc...), I will choose an appropriate incentive until the chore is completed. It may be no TV, no phone time, or an early bedtime. My choice, not yours.
The fines are:
5 minutes of chores per item.
10 minutes of chores per item if that particular item causes me to trip/causes any other bodily harm; spills/causes additional messes; or creates an additional problem. (Hint: wet towels on the bathroom carpet is an example of "an additional problem".)
Learn to take your punishment:
If you do the crime, pay the fine. That is a life skill. If I speed on the highway, the friendly police officer will catch me and I will pay the fine. No extra credit for "I forgot" or "It wasn't my turn to watch the speedometer". I pay the fine. Period. If I start to argue, my fine will increase. Learn this life lesson now before you meet that police officer. Think of me as boot camp. If you can survive me, then you can survive life.
How this will work:
You will find a new, clean dry-erase board in the kitchen. (You remember the kitchen, right? It is the place with the clean dishes, all of the food, and the cabinet doors that never get completely closed.) On that board is a column with your name and also columns for the item & the appropriate points. Once you have paid the fine, the line is erased, you get your precious property back, and you can continue with your regularly scheduled life. Unless you leave that same item out again, it will be forgiven and forgotten.
The appeal process:
The server is busy. Please try again later. (later, as in when you are 21 and an adult with your own place.....)
Any questions? Good! Let's have a clean day, shall we?!?!?!
The problems:
1) I'm tired of nagging. Period. End of statement.
2) They could care less if I threw away a wet towel or other such item that they have no personal interest in.
3) DGD will be crawling in a few months and I foresee big problems from the legos, cards, nail polish, etc... that seem to move around at will around our house.
My new plan:
(Read this as if you are one of my wonderfully precious children. Read it with a bit of a sarcastic tone and an slight evil eye. Read it with resolve. Read it dripping with maternal love & affection.)
You will have plenty of opportunities to pick up your belongings and other household items that you use. You know where they go and if you forget, I will cheerfully answer your questions about proper placements. You will even gain "extra credit" for taking the initiative to ask!
If I find it necessary to pick up your items, you will be required to do chores to pay your "fine". The time and choice of such chores are up to me, not you. I will keep that item and you will not get it back until you pay the fine attached to it. If is an item that you don't care about (wet towels, etc...), I will choose an appropriate incentive until the chore is completed. It may be no TV, no phone time, or an early bedtime. My choice, not yours.
The fines are:
5 minutes of chores per item.
10 minutes of chores per item if that particular item causes me to trip/causes any other bodily harm; spills/causes additional messes; or creates an additional problem. (Hint: wet towels on the bathroom carpet is an example of "an additional problem".)
Learn to take your punishment:
If you do the crime, pay the fine. That is a life skill. If I speed on the highway, the friendly police officer will catch me and I will pay the fine. No extra credit for "I forgot" or "It wasn't my turn to watch the speedometer". I pay the fine. Period. If I start to argue, my fine will increase. Learn this life lesson now before you meet that police officer. Think of me as boot camp. If you can survive me, then you can survive life.
How this will work:
You will find a new, clean dry-erase board in the kitchen. (You remember the kitchen, right? It is the place with the clean dishes, all of the food, and the cabinet doors that never get completely closed.) On that board is a column with your name and also columns for the item & the appropriate points. Once you have paid the fine, the line is erased, you get your precious property back, and you can continue with your regularly scheduled life. Unless you leave that same item out again, it will be forgiven and forgotten.
The appeal process:
The server is busy. Please try again later. (later, as in when you are 21 and an adult with your own place.....)
Any questions? Good! Let's have a clean day, shall we?!?!?!
