Why I deserve a parenting award or This is what they call Win/Win
Published by amberlicious February 22nd, 2009 in How I torment my kids, How my kids torment meSo we’ve been having some battles with obedience and listening lately. So I’ve (re)instituted my ‘if you don’t listen you have to do something to help me feel better about that’ rule. Of course this punishment fits most crimes. You lie to me? Help me feel better about that by cleaning the bathroom. You hit your sister? Help her feel better about that by making her bed. Etc.
We’ve had some bedtime battles. The bedroom setup is as follows. Ashley (10) is in a room by herself downstairs. She’s not an issue. The other three girls are upstairs in rooms right next to each other. Megan (6) has her own room and Annika (5) and Cori (3 1/2) share. So I’ve been having to kick Megan out of the other girl’s room and then remind them (in a very sweet mommy voice- if you’d believe that) 5 million times to shut the heck up and go to sleep already! This would go on for hours. Finally I’d had it.
So for the last four or five nights they’ve been put to bed with a reminder that if I hear talking/playing etc then they must not be tired and need to do a chore before going to bed. For the last four or five nights I’ve had my dishwasher emptied courtesy of Annika. By the time she’s done everyone else is asleep, plus my dishwasher starts the day empty! Win win situation baby!
Hard at work
She was totally fake crying too- and protesting she was tired. But under threat of losing something special she kept at it. She was in bed 5 minutes later and asleep 5 minutes after that.
She did manage to not have to do it tonight- but 4 nights out of 5 is pretty good for me. Two guesses who is usually the instigator….
Another brilliant parenting move from this week is solving the ‘perpetually filthy bedroom and way too many dirty clothes for two little girls’.
I bought two of these:
To go here:
If they can’t get into their closet they can’t pull down 5 outfits every time they find something to wear- which is 10 times a day at least. I’m tired of washing clothes I know they haven’t worn- and it also results in a room piled high with clothes. Then the clothes get mixed in with the toys and the trash (if you don’t have little girls you’ll not understand the amount of trash they can create) and it’s too big a mess to clean up. My girls also bathe/shower daily and get a new towel every time and then leave it on their floor- every time. It was beyond insane.
Now? I get them out one outfit in the morning- which they can have when their jammies are in the hamper and their towel has been hung up again. When I go in to get them jammies they have to pick up their room first. Their room has been clean since I bought the closet locks. Best $6.00 I’ve ever spent.
Blogged straight for two days at 11:20pm.
I understand what you mean about girls and garbage, but I’ve got news for you, boys create garbage too! I’m always amazed at how a room can be clean one minute and then covered with papers (torn into bits) packing peanuts (torn into bits) and candy wrappers (stuck to the carpet)
We had to lock the pantry closet in our last house so our kids wouldn’t go through and open all the pop top cans then leave them (open) in the closet to spoil.
You’ve inspired me, I think I’ll start making the kids clean the garage every time they break a rule.
Two days! Yay!
jill’s last blog post..A tale of a picky pea eating, dive bombing, kitchen trashing, rather naughty brown bird
Those closet locks are sheep brilliance, I tell you!
Annette’s last blog post..CD Giveaway!
Ha, closet locks, I love it! I may need this for my husband, who is guilty of the same thing. It was great meeting you Saturday Amber!
ameliorate me’s last blog post..Demi Moore, eat your heart out (or Elizabeth Berkley in her awkward post “Saved by the Bell” years. Or Lindsay Lohan in that one movie no one saw.)
Great to meet you on Saturday! I’m a stalker now…and if you really want, we could friends on FB too because I’m obsessed
Search for Vanessa Nielsen Schmidt
I’m happy to see the post you created while we played our game. I love the closet locks, not that I would have any use for them because we have curtains for closet doors. Maybe my girl won’t be obsessed with clothes?
This sounds like my life. Are we related?
where’d the locks come from so i can go buy some?
Alissa’s last blog post..Abigail and other blatherings.
What a genius you are! I LOVE this idea…the whole concept. I wonder if it would be lost on my 3 year old? It’s worth at try! LOVE IT!
(Me) Danielle’s last blog post..Red Carpet Extravaganza
You, my new friend, are brilliant. I’m on facebook as well…if you want to be sucked further into that.
It was so fun to sit next to you at the lunch. I’ll be around stalking and commenting.
Shanna’s last blog post..Don’t hate me because I rocked the Snuggie
You are a very clever mommy.
wonder woman’s last blog post..intuition
You are brilliant! There’s always a better way to do things than just keep getting aggravated and yelling. I love the chore idea….I would have just put them to bed at different times…..but this way she’s learning a lesson as well. And the closet locks…..sheer genius!
karen’s last blog post..I’m Sick
Ooooo … closet lock envy.
And I LOVE the “make me feel better” and “chores if you won’t sleep” rules. Pure genious.
That Girl in Brazil’s last blog post..All things excrement - *Reader Beware*
If they gave a Nobel prize for brillant parenting, you, my dear would get it! I wish I was as smart as you when my kids were younger.
Jo’s last blog post..Presidential Monday
Oh how I hear you on this issue. We have sliding doors, so don’t know if they make locks for that. Anyway, my middle son goes through so many outfits and costumes each day, it is maddening. The only thought I’ve had is to put up lots of small pegs inside his closet door so he can hang the costumes (as if he’d do that!) and have easy access for when the mood strikes to shift from Spiderman to Batman!
Wendy’s last blog post..A Good Laugh