Accountable Kids=Sane Mommy

I think I have stumbled upon a great product and I wanted to share it with my mommy friends. My kids are old enough to do chores, but that doesn't mean they always DO them. I find it easier (and quicker) to do what my kids could do, myself (relate?). The problem? My kids don't know how to be responsible for their things without being nagged to death (i.e. pick up your clothes, make your bed, clean the playroom, flush the freakin' potty, etc). I am overwhelmed and frustrated at them because of this, and frankly, I don't have the time to do EVERYTHING for them anymore-I'm outnumbered, 3:1! I have made and bought various chore charts, tried beads in a jar, sticker charts, incentive after incentive, but they haven't worked very well. Why? Well, I have to be the one to remind them, keep them working consistently, do the policing of the system, and try to come up with appropriate incentives while still promoting intrinsic motivation. Mostly, it hasn't met the needs of our family.

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My answer was found at the MOPS Convention. I talked with the Accountable Kids Table at the resource fair for about 20 minutes about their program and decided to purchase the book to get more info. After reading several chapters and watching a video off the website, I think this program will really work. It also looks great for those of us who don't want to pay our kids to do basic chores, but also think they should earn their own money (allowance) to learn how to tithe, save, spend, etc. I love too how there are short term incentives as well as long term ones and a way to correct negative behavior. They do offer a group discount if 20 kits are ordered. Let me know if you are interested in that-FAQ HERE. If we get enough people to order, it will save almost $10 off each kit. Check it out and let me know what you think!






For more information and to watch a video about how it works, here ya go:


http://accountablekids.com/default.aspx

Special Spoon

I have a non-eater. I think every family has one. It's God way, I guess. Cate and Claire inhale almost everything I cook. I have a rule that you eat what I make (or daddy makes) or you don't eat, after all, I'm not a short order cook-lol! Please don't think too harshly of me. Usually, the kids end up liking it, and all I ask is that they try instead of assuming they won't eat it. If they at least eat a few bites and still don't like it, I will give them cereal or something quick. Cara prefers to test my rule almost every night. I beg her to at least try one bite (I never make my kids clean their plate). She scoffs, she whines, she refuses *sigh*. Last night I was digging around for some clean spoons and the last one I had clean was a sugar spoon. Anyway, I told her she had to eat with the special spoon cuz that was all I had left-then it hit me. I can make this into the "special spoon" and only those who try new things get it! She loved that and tried a few bites for me. I think I will go and buy some really pretty spoons for each of them to use when they try new things. My thinking right now is that if they try the food, they get to use the special spoon for the rest of the meal. I'm still working all the details out. Fingers crossed!