From what I've read around the mommy blogs, I'm not the only one who finds getting kids to clean up their mess can sometimes present a challenge. The Vikings are 3 and almost-5. And, I'm trying to teach the habit of cleaning up their toys and such. But, it was turning into my naggin/them whining and I needed a better solution.
Need a new strategy? Try this one:
About 2 or 3 times a day, I ask the Vikings to pick up: generally before quiet time, before DaHubby arrives home, and before bedtime. So, we've turned it into a game. We play this video which is just under 3 minutes - and, as I assured the Vikings, ANYONE can clean for 3 minutes! LOL
The idea is to "move it move it" as fast as possible (safely) while putting away as much as possible (where it belongs). Add those disclaimers or you'll have a mess and/or injuries on your hands! LOL
When we first started, one three-minute run though generally got the majority of the mess and I was happy with that. But, I was THRILLED later to find them playing the video 2 and 3 times (Flicka knows how to hit "replay" for YouTube! LOL) while they then asked for the hand-vac and kiddie vacuum! LOL Plus, I can now walk away while I clean up some of the "grown-up mess" while they clean up.
And, if you had enough of Madagascar, maybe try something else. There are also kid video sites in abundance like Qubo and Sesame Street videos among others.
Kids gettin' excited about cleaning up? Now THAT works for me! Stop by Shannon's today for more great WFMW ideas.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Something else on my mind today...
Sue had a great post today about attitudes. Ours as wives. As a witness to our hubbies.
Let me ask you...what would your husband say about your attitude?
How do you suppose he speaks of you when you are not around?
And what do you think his friends say about you behind your back?
I'm fortunate enough to know - for the most part - what DaHubby says about me when I'm not around. What makes me catch my breath sometime is what must he think of my attitude? As my best friend, I vent all the icky stuff I'm feeling and dealing with. Eight times out of 10, he helps me with whatever it is. The ninth time - he's just listening to me vent and knows he needs to just listen. LOL it's that tenth time I'm worried about.
I want this home to be a place of relative peace from the world for us - especially for him as he is working full time and schooling full time and needs a place to rest, crash, and re-group.
Now, I'm not suggesting I should start keeping things from him but maybe be more careful about what I say and how I say it. And, for the days he's really struggle (as am I), what am I showing in terms of my faith in Christ?
And, as Sue ended her post:
"How can you change your attitude to show your husband that your faith in God and His Word is real...without using words?"
Thanks, Sue!
Let me ask you...what would your husband say about your attitude?
How do you suppose he speaks of you when you are not around?
And what do you think his friends say about you behind your back?
I'm fortunate enough to know - for the most part - what DaHubby says about me when I'm not around. What makes me catch my breath sometime is what must he think of my attitude? As my best friend, I vent all the icky stuff I'm feeling and dealing with. Eight times out of 10, he helps me with whatever it is. The ninth time - he's just listening to me vent and knows he needs to just listen. LOL it's that tenth time I'm worried about.
I want this home to be a place of relative peace from the world for us - especially for him as he is working full time and schooling full time and needs a place to rest, crash, and re-group.
Now, I'm not suggesting I should start keeping things from him but maybe be more careful about what I say and how I say it. And, for the days he's really struggle (as am I), what am I showing in terms of my faith in Christ?
And, as Sue ended her post:
"How can you change your attitude to show your husband that your faith in God and His Word is real...without using words?"
Thanks, Sue!
Considering this...
I've been reading this book and I can't seem to turn a page without something shaking me to my core to re-think how I spend the precious hours I'm given each day.
"Recently I was talking with a friend about a biblical passage on grace: Ephesians 2.1-10. In that passage, the apostle Paul insists that apart from Christ we are dead, and in Christ we receive love, mercy, and new life. All this comes to us as a gift, the gift of grace. We cannot do anything to earn it. My friend asked me if I ever truly experienced God's grace. As I thought about her question, I realized that (observing) the sabbath, more than anything else, has enabled me to experience this grace that comes to us in Christ.
"The sabbath teaches us grace because it connects us experientially to the basic truth that nothing we do will earn God's love. As long as we are working hard, using our gifts to serve others, experiencing joy in our work along with the toil, we are always in danger of believeing that our actions trigger God's love for us. Only in stopping, really stopping, do we teach our hearts and souls that we are loved apart from what we do."
As things are in "God's economy", such a simple lesson in unfathomable grace from such a simple but obedient task.
One other thought - completely my own and not the author's - if we tithe in obedience, in thankfulness, and in worship and if it is to remind us that it's all God's to start with and we are dependent on Him alone, what would it mean to tithe our time? Ten percent of each day is about 2.5 hours. So, wouldn't it seem appropriate in some way that we spend that much time in His presence?
Or, another way of thinking about it - seven days a week and one tenth of that is about 17 hours - about what you would spend awake on any given day. Couldn't we spend one day resting, truly focusing on Him for one-tenth of our time?
"Recently I was talking with a friend about a biblical passage on grace: Ephesians 2.1-10. In that passage, the apostle Paul insists that apart from Christ we are dead, and in Christ we receive love, mercy, and new life. All this comes to us as a gift, the gift of grace. We cannot do anything to earn it. My friend asked me if I ever truly experienced God's grace. As I thought about her question, I realized that (observing) the sabbath, more than anything else, has enabled me to experience this grace that comes to us in Christ.
"The sabbath teaches us grace because it connects us experientially to the basic truth that nothing we do will earn God's love. As long as we are working hard, using our gifts to serve others, experiencing joy in our work along with the toil, we are always in danger of believeing that our actions trigger God's love for us. Only in stopping, really stopping, do we teach our hearts and souls that we are loved apart from what we do."
As things are in "God's economy", such a simple lesson in unfathomable grace from such a simple but obedient task.
One other thought - completely my own and not the author's - if we tithe in obedience, in thankfulness, and in worship and if it is to remind us that it's all God's to start with and we are dependent on Him alone, what would it mean to tithe our time? Ten percent of each day is about 2.5 hours. So, wouldn't it seem appropriate in some way that we spend that much time in His presence?
Or, another way of thinking about it - seven days a week and one tenth of that is about 17 hours - about what you would spend awake on any given day. Couldn't we spend one day resting, truly focusing on Him for one-tenth of our time?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Potty Training: Day One
After two weeks of saying with every diaper I changed "what happens on your birthday?" and Pojke responding "I stop whair-in die-purrs", we took the plunge (no pun intended) today.
We took a dry run (again no pun intended) on Friday when DaHubby changed Pojke's butt and put him in underwear for the afternoon. We've talked about it at every opportunity.
Then, he got up this morning. DaHubby got to him first. Pojke put on his "un-dee-whairs" and hasn't looked back today. Three accidents - two at home; one at Grandma's. He pooped in the naptime diaper. Other than that, a completely uneventful and stress-free day...NOTHING like potty training Flicka! LOL So, not only did we survive day one, I got a ton accomplished today. So, I feel like MegaMom...at least until the next household catastrophe! LOL
And, no good milestone is complete without some pictures! LOL
Practicing on New Years Day:
Friday's dry run - and yes, that's a training potty in the middle of my living room. Hey, I'm all about keepin' it real! LOL
We took a dry run (again no pun intended) on Friday when DaHubby changed Pojke's butt and put him in underwear for the afternoon. We've talked about it at every opportunity.
Then, he got up this morning. DaHubby got to him first. Pojke put on his "un-dee-whairs" and hasn't looked back today. Three accidents - two at home; one at Grandma's. He pooped in the naptime diaper. Other than that, a completely uneventful and stress-free day...NOTHING like potty training Flicka! LOL So, not only did we survive day one, I got a ton accomplished today. So, I feel like MegaMom...at least until the next household catastrophe! LOL
And, no good milestone is complete without some pictures! LOL
Practicing on New Years Day:
Friday's dry run - and yes, that's a training potty in the middle of my living room. Hey, I'm all about keepin' it real! LOL
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Cake in the Making
Yea, yea, yea. I know I've been off the bloggy grid for the most part since before Christmas. Just too much jugglin' and not enough quiet time to think deep thoughts. The backhanded blessing of being a child with divorced parents? Multiple holidays.
I cooked a T-giving dinner weekend for Mom and Stepdad Nov 16th
Took part in in-laws' T-giving Nov 27th
Mom's side Cmas party near Detroit: Dec 13th
In-law's Cmas: Cmas Eve
Dad, Stepmom, one half-sis over for Cmas dinner: Dec 27th
And, now Pojke's birthday is this coming week. LOL No wonder I don't feel like I've been able to stop for 8 weeks! LOL
Kept it simple this year. No big party; we're going for a playdate tomorrow in K-zoo with 2 cousins and another family we know. Then, lunch. Then, cake and ice cream at Auntie S's house.
But, it's become tradition that I make a cool cake! LOL I've blogged about a few here, here, and here. This year was no exception. So, using this and this as inspiration, I give you...the making of this year's cake for Pojke:
Cars and candles to be added tomorrow.
Oh, and in tribute to my frugal bloggy mentors (Happy Housewife, Frugal Dad, and Money Saving Mom), the cost of this cake? $4.50.
I cooked a T-giving dinner weekend for Mom and Stepdad Nov 16th
Took part in in-laws' T-giving Nov 27th
Mom's side Cmas party near Detroit: Dec 13th
In-law's Cmas: Cmas Eve
Dad, Stepmom, one half-sis over for Cmas dinner: Dec 27th
And, now Pojke's birthday is this coming week. LOL No wonder I don't feel like I've been able to stop for 8 weeks! LOL
Kept it simple this year. No big party; we're going for a playdate tomorrow in K-zoo with 2 cousins and another family we know. Then, lunch. Then, cake and ice cream at Auntie S's house.
But, it's become tradition that I make a cool cake! LOL I've blogged about a few here, here, and here. This year was no exception. So, using this and this as inspiration, I give you...the making of this year's cake for Pojke:
Cars and candles to be added tomorrow.
Oh, and in tribute to my frugal bloggy mentors (Happy Housewife, Frugal Dad, and Money Saving Mom), the cost of this cake? $4.50.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
">
