We have a toddler bed that has been hiding in the corner, standing upright behind a room divider, in Ella's room. I got tired of looking at it. I threw Ella's crib mattress onto the bed. And the blankets. And the pillow. And the toys and pacifiers. She looked puzzled. Delighted that she could play on her bed, Ella climbed up and giggled as she got off. Then she got on. Then off. She got used to it this morning.
Eric said goodbye to his crib at 18 months. We vacationed in Florida and he slept on a twin bed on the floor. When we got home we followed through and continued to let him sleep on a twin mattress on the floor.
Alayna made the transition at 13 months. She slept in the bottom bunk. We had just moved to Florida and were living with our Mimi and Poppy.
Cailin went straight to her own bed at...um come to think of it. It's a blur. I'll have to ask Billy. Ha!! Oh how life runs so fast :) Well, for the sake of the story. I'm going to say, 15 months. I do remember she and Alayna sleeping in twin beds side by side, dorm room style.
I thought I would give it a whirl with Ella at 15 months. Naptime arrived. Procedures were carried out like normal. Screams followed at the door. Oh the screams. I'm no dummy! I fixed the crib, gave her time to chill out, and then put her down thirty minutes later in the place she calls home.
6.29.2010
6.21.2010
Update
Chores are still going well...WELL...
Eric:
He has had quite a time with the dishes at night. Struggling and saying, "Why do I have to do this?" I told him how yucky it would be to eat his waffle off of those plates in the morning.
Cailin:
When the kids ask to watch TV, I ask them to get me a clip (a reward from completed chores). This morning Cailin put two clips on her chore chart before doing any housework, and asked to watch TV. She knew she needed a clip...so she prepared herself. She said, "But Mommy, pleeeease. I have a cl---ipppp." Cailin knew that she didn't earn those clips. Thankfully, she didn't put up a fuss when I told her no and that her chores had to be done first.
Alayna:
I think she enjoys being a helper. She is not too fond of limited TV. She is finding more and more things to do in the mornings now though. She even thinks she can read. The book "Hot Dog," she has memorized.
Overall, I am loving the extra help and less TV. I think only once this week, Mommy and Daddy decided it was easier to let them skip chores:)
Eric:
He has had quite a time with the dishes at night. Struggling and saying, "Why do I have to do this?" I told him how yucky it would be to eat his waffle off of those plates in the morning.
Cailin:
When the kids ask to watch TV, I ask them to get me a clip (a reward from completed chores). This morning Cailin put two clips on her chore chart before doing any housework, and asked to watch TV. She knew she needed a clip...so she prepared herself. She said, "But Mommy, pleeeease. I have a cl---ipppp." Cailin knew that she didn't earn those clips. Thankfully, she didn't put up a fuss when I told her no and that her chores had to be done first.
Alayna:
I think she enjoys being a helper. She is not too fond of limited TV. She is finding more and more things to do in the mornings now though. She even thinks she can read. The book "Hot Dog," she has memorized.
Overall, I am loving the extra help and less TV. I think only once this week, Mommy and Daddy decided it was easier to let them skip chores:)
6.14.2010
All Systems A Go!
Summer is here and I am so thankful for the lack of a school schedule. No rushing to get lunch made. No nagging Eric to get his shoes on. And no waking up my girls to get Eric to school on time. I have been very eager to attempt a new chores system with the kids and with a little extra time now, we have been using it and making great strides.
The breakdown:
Each child will have to do Kitchen chores after each meal. Then Get Ready chores in the morning. Up Keep chores during the day and Clean Up chores at night. 15 total. Each child has their chores written on cards hanging on the freezer. When they complete their job, they flip the card from "To do" to "Done." For each set of chores they receive a half hour of TV time. (3x a day = 1.5 hrs)
Results: Seriously, my house is clean.- for the most part. I don't know how long this will last. I don't know if they will eventually put up a fight. But for right now: My kids wash dishes, clean the table and highchair and the floors after every meal. They put away their laundry. Clean their own bathroom. Take care of the dog. Have clean rooms and a clean playroom. And are ready to go each day with clean teeth and a made bed.
The future: Undoubtedly, I will find myself frustrated. I know it. But that's okay. My kids are doing awesome, learning skills while they are so young. I cling to hope that the routine will be easy and one day soon and I hope to teach them even more skills...After all, it's not my job to do everything for them, but to teach them to do it for themselves.
Side note: Cailin wonders around to avoid making her bed. Alayna does an awesome job with her top bunk and usually is finished everything first. And Eric is getting competitive :)
The breakdown:
Each child will have to do Kitchen chores after each meal. Then Get Ready chores in the morning. Up Keep chores during the day and Clean Up chores at night. 15 total. Each child has their chores written on cards hanging on the freezer. When they complete their job, they flip the card from "To do" to "Done." For each set of chores they receive a half hour of TV time. (3x a day = 1.5 hrs)
Results: Seriously, my house is clean.- for the most part. I don't know how long this will last. I don't know if they will eventually put up a fight. But for right now: My kids wash dishes, clean the table and highchair and the floors after every meal. They put away their laundry. Clean their own bathroom. Take care of the dog. Have clean rooms and a clean playroom. And are ready to go each day with clean teeth and a made bed.
The future: Undoubtedly, I will find myself frustrated. I know it. But that's okay. My kids are doing awesome, learning skills while they are so young. I cling to hope that the routine will be easy and one day soon and I hope to teach them even more skills...After all, it's not my job to do everything for them, but to teach them to do it for themselves.
Side note: Cailin wonders around to avoid making her bed. Alayna does an awesome job with her top bunk and usually is finished everything first. And Eric is getting competitive :)
Eric Turned Six
Eric: my son. He turned six. For six years now, he has been making each and everyday interesting and exciting. He has a passion for many things. Sports, music, superheroes, and drawing. His imagination began very early. When he was two, he would take Billy and I (one at a time) into his tent and his world came alive...with very detailed descriptions of Christmas morning and other exciting events. He is very particular. About everything. Food especially. You can tell by his skinny stature. We are thankful he has grown as much as he has. Now he is choosing to grow his curly hair out all summer. He likes to feel like a rockstar, despite his shyness. He'll pound away on the drums and sing songs for the world to hear. But then in a group, he's either shy and subdued or the energetic boy ready to roll. This past year in kindergarten Eric has made great progress academically. But I think his progress at AWANA is near to my heart. He has always had accurate memory and now he is applying it to God's Word. More importantly, taking the lessons to heart. With a fantastic list of talents, I pray that Eric will use what God has given him to glorify Him.
6.05.2010
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