Starting New

March 20, 2007

I really don't know if this blog is worth my time. I enjoy doing it and talking about things I have learned and even learning things from those who read, but I have to admit I'm trying to decide if it is worth my time. I'm going to be checking the hits, once I figure that out, and seeing how effective this is. But here is my day.

Today

I tried something new for the morning - I wrote out a chart with pictures and all so that the boys know exactly what we are doing and when we are doing it. They know we need to finish one task before we start the next.

The chart is as follows - with little explanation (It was very effective and I think I'll try again.)

get dressed

clean room

breakfast

table chores - when the kids get done they go into separate rooms to play while I
finish mine

Yoga on PBS - 6yo and 1 yo joined me and 3yo played computer

chores

baked bread - 6yo did a workbook at table, 1yo played at table and 3 yo helped
(they all played with a little ball I broke off of the dough) I have a great recipe that I will have to post later

call scout mom's (I help with the cub scouts in my area)

call and RSVP one of those "party" things where you are supposed to buy things - I told her I couldn't make it and that I had been invited to four for this particular company. Side note- I like to research and think about the things I buy. I'm not an impulse buyer. I will go to the party for social, but seldom, if ever, to buy something that I can usually find cheaper somewhere else.

the boys found a worm and so we went to the neighbors to feed it to their chickens,
(This is when the older two boys disobeyed and I was forced to cancel any play times until Friday. I don't like to do this, but 3yo hit - a problem he's been having and 6 yo whined my ears practically off - I just returned from a weekend away from the family and was informed that the whining stopped when I left and began when I returned - this tells me that I must be giving him some kind of pay off to keep doing it. I will plan alternate activities for my kids for when they would have been playing with the many neighborhood kids.

3 yo and 1 yo are having a nap and I tidied the house, deep cleaned part of the fridge, made dinner - meatloaf and mashed potatoes, tried to mail a check, but we are out of envelopes, planned tomorrow and wrote a chart like the one I made for today.

When 6yo gets home from kindergarten and everyone is awake I plan to go to Wal-Mart. I don't like doing this, but I will try to practice with my kids to sit in the cart before we go. (Today our practices have consisted of working on sitting still during family prayer and coming quickly. The boys have done wonderfully. I'm excited to show their dad tonight. The funny thing about all this practice behaving is that the boys really seem to like it.