Let's give them a try...

Have you ever tried staying at home with a VERY active and independent 4 year old who has been in preschool since he was 8 weeks old?! Where all he knows is that there is always something to do, someone to play with, and rules that must be followed. Now try taking that same 4 year old and put him in a house where there is no set schedule, no friends to play with (except a little sister who really doesn't do anything but take attention away from him), and a new set of rules! What does that equal you may wonder... I'll tell you. A nightmare!!!!! That's right... I don't know what happened to my boy but his whole world was turned upside down by mommy staying home and he is going to let everyone, especially mom know what he thinks about that! Behavior is out of control and he is watching more TV and playing more computer games than ever. I'm almost afraid to admit it! Something had to change!

In the last week I have struggled with myself. What's wrong with me? Why isn't this kid acting right?! How do I get him to act right? There are a million and one things that need to be done other than just play and meet the needs of 2 children. You see... there is this other guy that lives at my house that doesn't understand why the house can't be clean, dinner cooked, and smiles on every one's faces when he walks in the door from work. I mean after all.. how hard can it be to stay at home with the kids!?

After a few tears... OK maybe a little more than a few... I decided to give myself a pep talk. It went a little something like this...

Get it together Lauren! You're getting a degree in this! Put some of your creative ideas to work and try them out! What is there to lose? The only thing that might happen is you will be back to square one. Or maybe... just maybe... you might temporarily fix your insanity while teaching your children at the same time!

OK... I can do this... meet my creative ideas that will be started on Monday...

First we have MaLa (pronounced maylay, he is the monkey that loves to eat bananas. Everyday Gavin gets 3 bananas. Just like at school.. he gets 3 chances and then a banana gets eaten. Why should Gavin care about this monkey? Well... if before bed he has all 3 bananas he gets a prize from the treasure box and a sticker on the chart... if he only has 2 he only gets a sticker on the chart. Anything less gets nothing. No bananas gets a toy taken away. At the end of the week... he must have at least 3 stickers on his chart to have Friday Funday!









Next we have the chore chart. No TV shows or computer will be played until these are done and mommy has checked. On the left are the morning chores and on the right are the night chores.At the top are extra chores that he can do to get money. When the jobs are completed he moves them to the middle for mommy to check. Then mommy moves them back when she approves of them being done. I'm actually quite pleased with this one and for my boy who loves lists I think this might actually work. At least for a little while.





Here's hoping it works!!