JUST A THOUGHT....

I have been trying to post this for days...lets see if it works this time...

A while back I was checking out some peoples blogs and I found something interesting. A lot of people were talking about creating routines, developing handy household skills, and general homemaking...it just must be in the air. I love this kind of information and in fact crave it. JJ you have addicted me to the "correct way to crack an egg"...after smashing it to pieces the first time, I have consistently gotten better, and can do it no other way! Also , the handy way to fold sheets....another JJ fun fact...thanks.

Isaac had to make a chore chart and follow it for one month for one of his scout requirements. So we made up a good chart and are all reaping the good benefits of that! Even little Gayle drys the dishes! On this chart the kids work for 6 days and on the 7th they just make their bed and they get a prize for all of their time and effort. Now when I say prize, I mean like a pack of gum, or a trip to the dollar store or something like that. I will admit it. Cory and I hardly ever buy the kids anything. I would say that we spend our money on letting them take swim lessons, being in t- ball, soccer...things that will keep them active and social. We buy them toys at Christmas and Birthdays. In doing this Cory and I have found that our children are more thankful for the things that they recieve. For instance...a trip to the dollar store may not seem like much...but for those that dont "get " something every time they go shopping it is a delight! Cory and I decided also long ago that we would not buy them something every time we went to the store...one because we did not have the money, and two because we did not want them to think that they were going to get something. Prizes are small and cheap at our house...but no less exciting for them. stickers were the reward for potty training...not candy. I feel bad for some parents who have set the standard so high. Isaac asked me the other day if he could have a prize for doing so well at swim lessons...I said your prize is that you get to take swim lessons. Believe it or not we had the best prize for when Isaac brought home 100s on his spelling test. Spankings. Yes you read that right. He would bring it to us with a big smile on his face, and we would act angry and say " What is this? You had better not let this happen again" and then we would chase him down and then Cory would hold him while I spanked him with the spoon....he LOVED it. Later on someone told him what they got for good grades and he told him that he got spankings...and then the reaction he got embarassed him...sooo no more spankings...HA. At any rate...I guess all I am saying is that when you dont make your child expect that he deserves something...he will be thankful for whatever he gets...even if it is just a stick of gum.