Turn off the tv and DO something

A note to myself for 2013 (and beyond!): 

Chores and Rewards

It's time for updated systems around here. What was once considered major accomplishments (brushing your teeth) has now become expected and normal. No more special attention for such mundane tasks. Our baby is now 5 years old and while chores have been a regular part of our lives I now see the need to "up the ante".

I learned from my sister-in-law, Paige, and a wise woman of 9 children, Darlene, about the "five finger chores". We've doing those for about a month now and it has helped us reign in my daughter's desire to instantly jump on the computer or turn on the tv in the morning. First she needs to finish her "first fives".

Here's what our (well used!) Five Finger Chore Chart looks like:

1. Turn off your "water sounds" (white noise machine)
2. Turn off your radio
3. Get dressed
4. Drink water
5. Put your laundry in the basket

Humbly drawn at the bottom is a picture of the computer. She can watch a show when she finishes all five. It's perfection.

But I also learned from my years observing Darlene that a great chore system may last a short while before it loses it's appeal. She seemed to have a good handle on when to revamp!

Pockets, Popsicle sticks, stickers, money, threats .... whatever your system, I'm curious what you do; What you've tried; How you've succeeded and how you've failed. Do tell!

Here's my newest plan to use in conjunction with the Five Finger Chart. Feel free to use, share, or delete!

REGULAR CHORES/TASKS

(Compiled with input from the 5 year old)

Take a bath

Get dressed

Clean your room

Clean up after your meals

Put away your books

Put away your toys

Take care of your laundry

Rest time

EXTRA CHORES FOR REWARDS

Clean kitchen surfaces (floor, or cabinet doors, or garbage can)

Organize the clean laundry into piles (child, adult, towels, etc)

Put away all the clean dishes

Vacuum the living room

Vacuum your room

Sweep/rake leaves

Match plastic lids with their containers

Bring in 4 bags of groceries

Each extra chore completed gets a sticker.

When you have three stickers you get a treat.

If you save two treats you can trade them in for a toy at the dollar store.

Sticker	Sticker	Sticker	Treat
Sticker	Sticker	Sticker	Treat

Perfection isn't part of this journey.

Last week is creeping up in relentless reminders that I am not perfect.  Simple tasks, jumbled, become costly mistakes. I am unfocused and scattered. Appointments made for the wrong day. Miscommunicating. Forgetful. Interrupted. Unfinished.

Last night after a day, full, I grumbled my exhaustion to the one who chooses to love me and my mistakes; 9 hours of work, 3 hours for a hair appointment, dinner at the diner, getting home just in time to watch Survivor. I have talked non stop since dawn and I have nothing more to give. I grumble more to the child I've only seen for 20 minutes. It's bedtime. She refuses to brush teeth and I respond in anger. I'm tired and angry.

He said, "You're tired, but isn't it because you are living your dream?"

Oh.

Yes.

He is right.

Thank you, dear husband, for not letting me dive any deeper into my mistakes!

With different perspective, exhaustion is beautiful. Something to feel and be happy for the feeling.

Tired and happy!

So then, could the pain of my mistakes also be something beautiful? Embarrassed, guilty, and apologetic - even those feelings might be welcome. I feel. I feel these things. And there is beauty in the emotion. In the consequences. I learn. I move forward.

They don't tell you this - but making mistakes is part of the curriculum. You can't "live the dream" without them. You don't get through a day, a week, a month, without error. Without misplaced anger. Without exhaustion. You just don't.

And living with it, moving through it, is part of this dream I am after. It's part of it! I can't separate it! Ignoring it like it might go away and eventually stop happening!? It will never stop happening. I lie to myself if I think that.

So this is my assignment. To feel my exhaustion! Feel my embarrassment! And be happy!

April Fool's Day Pranks

Oh what joy this day brings.

Just thinking about pranks thrills me to tears!

I decided to make up a tasty treat for my family along with a few other low-key pranks.

Enjoy!

April Fool's Day Chocolate Chip Cookies:

She wasn't very happy with me when I told her what they were ... she was too keen on these - knew something wasn't quite right and never actually tried one.

Did you figure it out? 

These are baked taters and black beans!!!

Simply delicious if you're expecting garlic, salt, sour cream, and potatoes! 

Here's how:

1. Whip up your favorite mashed potato recipe (I used 3 medium potatoes)

2. Mix in a few drops of yellow food coloring (3 drops was enough for this batch)

3. Stir in 1/2 can rinsed black beans

4. Then drop on a cookie sheet in a 350* oven for 30-45 minutes ... until golden on the top.

These will taste delicious with a little salsa at dinner time! 

By the way: I did make REAL cookies so as not to completely disappoint the family! ;)

For all you Pinterest Fools ..... happy pinning!

*******************************

Not only did I prank today, but we also dyed  few things: 

Julia's Bunny checking out the eggs:

After the eggs were done I hated to waste all that beautiful color - so we dyed rice. Not sure what we'll do with this, but it feels right to have festive rice laying around.

I hope you fully enjoy April 1st - no matter what you get into!

One more thing .... 

if you have any leftover color disks/pellets from the Easter egg kit ... pop one into your kitchen faucet. Makes for a fantastic blast of color when the next person turns on the water!