I am so happy it is Friday. This week has been exhausting. My children went to school on Monday~ that's it. I have been an entertainer, referee, cook, laundry mat, maid, teacher, dishwasher, organizer and butt wiper~ oh wait, that defines M-O-M! We've actually been having a lot of fun together, but you can tell they are getting stir crazy and bored. A few things to keep them busy:- I started a countdown to Easter. They each made an envelope and put 40 "tickets" in it. The ticket is just a piece of purple paper cut into a rectangle. Then they each made a cross on each ticket. Everyday they take out a ticket, write down what they would like to pray about that day and we stick it on the cross. They have enjoyed this and I think it helps remind them that Easter isn't just about a bunny.
- A countdown chain to our Florida trip. This actually was an idea to just keep them busy and get them to stop asking me if we are going tomorrow, the next day or the day after that. They simply cut strips of paper and glued them all together. It's pretty long~ we aren't going till April :)
- I made a chart of "extra" jobs that they can do. Anytime they do one of these jobs, their initial goes into the box. At the end of the week I will count up the initials and they can earn some spending money for the Florida trip. And because they are clueless about what they can spend their precious pennies on, we spent some time online together looking up Florida trinkets. "Mom, why do you have to buy seashells if you can find them on the beach?" "Just cuz, now go clean something!" Ha ha :) Oh and this chart does NOT include the job chart they do everyday anyways, those have no cash value, they are just expected. Don't want ya to think they are getting paid for brushing their teeth or making their beds! :)
- What have you been up to?
- What jobs do you expect of your children, and what are your extras?
- Do you do anything special for Easter?
- Anybody else traveling for Spring Break?
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Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
30 comments:
Those are such good ideas!
I don't have kids yet, but I'm printing this out to save for when I do. You're so creative!
4 days at home with the kids would drive the best of moms (like you) crazy I applaud you for keeping your sanity. We also did a count down calendar for Disney when we went in Nov. My daughter also took it with her to Disney and had Ariel sign it, too cute.
So many questions!!
First, I checked out Chaos - OH MY GOD!! I am in love with that puppy!!
Easter? Nothing special at all- we are a very Non-practicing Catholic family. That's what happens when you grow up in a house with parents of different religions. You dont learn good habits.
Spring Break? SQUAT - but we do hope to head to Florida to see CJ before he deploys.
Jobs for Connor? Not much - do his best in school (he has ADHD so that's a lot for him) help when asked (he always does) and keep his room clean and snake fed.
He does not get an allowance.
Btw, I love Scotchguard!
Hallie
That countdown to Easter is brilliant! Thank you for sharing the idea.
Hopefully no more school snow days next week. Sounds like you could use a break. ;)
Have a great weekend!
We are contemplating a family trip this spring break! We were in Orlando last year at this time and I miss the warmness of Florida!
Any holiday relating to God is very significant for us! We spend time with family and enjoy our love for God!
I totally suck at the chores thing for Diva however, she is too make beds in the mornings and care for her 2 dogs. Of course there are other small things but she should have way more responsibility at her age! *sigh*
Happy Friday!
I am with you about TGIF! Those were great ideas you have about Easter and your trip! Have a great weekend!
Count down stuff. Cool! I think I will steal your idea...my kids have several days off this month.
I applaud you for being so creative!
And Scotchgard! I think I will look into that too!
Always refreshing and informative your blog... :)
i love these ideas! i am going to try them with my boys!!! thanks for sharing!
i think i should be more clear in my expectations of my guys. perhaps i should better define what tasks need to be done. i have some stuff to think about, and i need to make some changes!
Hi, Girlymom!
Those are some great ideas you've got there!
In answer to your questions, my kids do have chores, like keeping their rooms semi-straightened, putting their dirty clothes in the laundry room, putting their dirty dishes in the dishwasher when they're done eating, etc. Then they have stuff like taking out the garbage on garbage day and bringing the cans back, cutting the lawn, helping out with the yard work, etc. We don't have a chart. I don't pay them, either, I expect it to be done because it's part of life and part of being a family.
We usually just get together with family for Easter dinner, but no big plans really. I'd love to go somewhere for Easter break, however, my oldest, Andrew, has a baseball tournament downstate (IL) that he can't miss. (I guess technically that is going somewhere, just no sandy beach! *sigh*) Have a great weekend!
Lizzy
Well, we have been up to nothing! Just teething baby & SNOW!!!
I don't know that we have anything planned for Easter. I was hoping to get a little trip South (where it's warmer) outta my husband. We'll see if that happens. If we stay here, it will be the normal Church & Family.
Spring Break, we have nothing planned at all! It's always up in the air until we find out if the Dad will be home or not. So, we'll have to see. I have found a few indoor pools around here, so I was thinking of a few swimming trips if we stay in town.
Nothing too fun!!
I love all your fun ideas with your kids!!
Well, HELLO SuperMom!!! What awesome ideas. We will be off to Florida around spring break as well--the first time for J to see the ocean and put his little feet in the sand. I can't wait!
We have actually tolsour kids there is no Easter bunny. Ican only lie to my kids about two fake people. Santa and the tooth fairy took the spots. We also maek sure we have a family lesson on what Easter is really about.
Your week sounds alot (or is it a lot?)like mine. I have had sick kids all week. I went to a pilates class last night only to get away. How sick is that?
Christina
PS I linked you on my blog about favorite products!!
You have been busy! I wish I had a Florida trip planned, actually I wish I had a trip planned at all. We are boring I guess. :(
At least it's Friday that made me smile. :) Have a good weekend!
I will say that certain things work for certain stages! We use to do the charts but boys outgrew it. Now we just tell them they can either pay for their food for get off their butts and help. They chose to get off their butts. :)
What great ideas! I might need to steal some of them if you don't mind. My kids are 2 and 1 and maybe a little young to start these yet, but I love the extra chores idea. What a great way to get the kiddos involved.
Glad that it is Friday too, and hoping for a full week of school next week for your kids! :-)
♥ Those are great ideas. Since Emma is 7 she has more responsiblities; she gets to clean her bathroom, put away her folded laundry, set & clear the table w/the help of the 3 little ones. The 3 little ones also take the clothes out of the dryer and put it in the basket. We don't really have extra's occationally if we're in a hurry to pick up then we have contests to see who can do it the quickest and if they all put in some good effort they'll get bubble gum or something!
For Easter we go to church like every sunday and then we'll usually have the easter bunny stuff the day before that way sunday is more focused on the real meaning of easter. Seems to work out really well.
Great post and great ideas...
HOLY COW! I haven't been able to read all my favorite blogs this week much and I come to yours and I have missed out on a TON this week! :-(
I love your favorite items post and Happy birthday to your Hubby!
Also, how sweet is Lolo to care so much. That reminded me of my daughter SO much!!!!!!
Have a great day and hope the kids get to go back to school next week! Ours missed a day and a half.
You always sound like such a great mom and have great ideas for your kids! We may be going to Utah during Spring Break - not sure yet. My husband and I are going on a trip (without kids) the end of April - can't wait! Nice to have these trips to look forward to, isn't it? You sound like you have a busy weekend ahead - take care and have fun. Kellan
You are always abrim with great ideas! What lucky girls you have! I'm sure if Gracie visited she'd never want to leave...your house sounds like Disney Land to a girl like her!!
What a great countdown to Easter idea. Please, for the sake of those not as creative, can you post your brilliant ideas a couple days before doing? We would have LOVED to countdown with you. Maybe it is not too late? You are so creative. Your girls are so lucky to have you!
I love your Easter prayers idea! I think we may use that ourselves around here. You have a great blog by the way!
What great ideas. I just may have to borrow those. I really like the easter countdown/praying idea because afterall it is about more than a bunny who delivers chocolate. I would love to hear more about your job charts. I am always looking for creative ways to get my kids more involved in jobs around the house. We have implemented a flag system to help with our biggest struggle - bedtime. I plan on posting about that soon. Have a great weekend!
good idea, I love the chain link idea. my boys however, would find a way to break it long before it would serve it's purpose. sigh.
I would love a spring break trip... without the kids. maybe I'll send them away to grandma and we'll stay here!! hehe
I will be getting Scotchguard at the store today. I believe people over commercials and ads. Your endorsement is good enough for me!
Not sure what the Easter plans are yet outside of going to Mass. I can't even remember what we did last Easter. Either I will be hosting dinner or my BFF will. I have a real problem with going out to eat on a holiday. And since this is the last Easter I will have Michael close for a while, I think I will host it. Loved your ideas. I never paid my kids an allowance...what they were required to do around the house was for the privilege of living there and having a home. With one of mine being ADHD, it was definitely an interesting ride. Michael is going to where he considers "home"(Richmond, VA where we lived when he was a child) and with hubby retiring not sure if we'll have the means to do anything or not.
Great Idea for easter Thanks for the insparation. YOur daughters ar beautiful! I have four girls too! We were in florida in Ocober and had a great time. We found that having them earn the extra spending money worked really well.
Great idea for easter. You have a beautiful family. I have four daughters also! We were in florida in Ocober we had a lot of fun it was grea! I think it really helped to have therm earn ther own spending money. They wanted to buy a lot less. The thing my eight year olds loved the most was buying a lanyard and some pins they loved trading with the disney cast members. I agree with doing chores just because that is part of living in a family unit and part of life! But it is fun to do extra things and have incentives and things to do that spice up life! My eight year olds and 5 year old make their beds and put away their own laundry and take some turns with dishes, and any thing else I might ask for the day. For extra things they have a list of extras that they have to find time to do with out being asked. Clean the bathrooms, Vaccum tidy up areas in the house stuff like that.
My first stop by your 'red door'. I found you through a precious friend of mine, "Chelle" at 'The World of Chelle'
I am the mom of four children, and we have a red door too!
I enjoyed my visit...Blessings,
Joanne
We will hunt eggs and go to church for easter.
I haven't figured out what I am going to do as far as chores though
I loved your ideas...especially the countdown to Easter one.
I WISH we were going to go somewhere for a vacation, but it looks as though we'll be staying close to home, because once again, the family car is having fits. :(
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