10 Pennies

Our house has been invaded by horrible attitudes. I think partly due to being so spoiled at Grandma's house for a month and a phase they are going through. Don't get me wrong, I am in NO WAY blaming this on Grandma. She was wonderful with the kids and the time down there was amazing for my three little ones.

I have been hearing quite a lot of yelling by my kids. Never at Mike and I, but at each other. The kids have also been arguing with us when asked to do things or being very snotty in general.

So after countless reminders on how we should act and the proper way to work out an argument, I have had enough. I threw in the towel on Sunday and brought out the BIG GUNS. It was time for some big changes here. I don't like the animosity my kids have been having with each other and enough is enough!!

Being the Mommy that I am, I decided I had to go about this another way. After three kids, I have learned that one way doesn't always work with all kids, sometimes I have to get creative or just think of a different way to get my point across.

Now that I caught you up on my frustration let me tell you how I took action. Sunday morning my parents and niece left to head back to California. I was busy cleaning up my kitchen and putting my house back into order. I quickly got my kids back into there normal morning routine; Cereal, getting dressed and chores. While everyone was busy taking care of there chores I pulled out three canning jars. I dug into my painting supplies and pulled out my masking tape. I ripped off three pieces and wrote each kids name along with a little happy drawing. I put one name on each jar and set them on the table. The kids came through the kitchen about this time and were instantly curious why they spotted there name on a jar. I came to the table and had each kid count out ten pennies to put in there jar. Of course anytime money is involved my kids think it's AWESOME! I then explained that every time I caught them yelling, talking snotty, talking back, complaining or disobeying, I was going to have them take a penny out of there jar. The look of sheer horror passed across there sweet little faces. I then told them that when I caught them solving an argument in the right way, happily obeying, talking extra nice to there sibling I would let them go and pick out a penny to put in there jar. I then told them, next Sunday, before church we'll count your pennies. If they have 10 or more pennies in there jar I will take them to McDonalds for an ice cream after church. If they don't have ten pennies . . no ice cream, even if they are the only one. Of course the kids thought that was great and were excited to start the penny game!! After this little talk I had the kids put there jars on the bookcase in the living room and put my plan into action!

My house changed like night and day. Last night I sent the girls into the shower to get cleaned up. I sometimes have Madison help Grace wash her hair when I am busy. In the past when this happens, Grace will be very uncooperative and Madison will get frustrated and yell at Grace. Last night, I put my ear to the bathroom and I heard Maddie making the hair washing into a game. Grace was a duck and the little duck had to go under the waterfall and get her beautiful feathers clean. Both girls were giggling and getting along. Of course I told them both how proud I was of them for doing such a great job and let them both take a penny.

This morning we went to wash buckets. We have the kids help on nice days and they all earn money or work towards something. Reece right now is working towards buying his daddy's Nintendo DS at a killer of a price. All three of the kids got in there and all worked so hard!! I never heard any of them complain once or fight with each other. Madison decided to teach Grace how to stack the buckets, after her shower success the night before, and again, made it a game for Grace. Grace loved it and wanted to get in there and help stack. Which, if you know my Gracie, will know what a huge success this was!

On another note, I have had a few times where I asked one of the kids to go brush there teeth and they decided it would be more fun to take a few more minutes to work on there puzzle. All I had to do was come back into the room and ask them what I had told them to do, they would respond, "Brush my teeth."

"So are you obeying me right now?" I would ask

"No, Mom."

"Go take a penny out of your jar. Next time make a better choice and obey the first time I ask."

No fuss from them, or arguing, they jump right up and go take a penny out of there jar and run down the hall to obey.

I'm excited because I know this has been a good way to help them get there attitudes under control. Plus I'm not constantly ragging on them!! I know my lessons are getting across because tonight we went to my In-Laws for a Bon Fire. Maddie was helping my Mother-In-Law carry some wood over to the fire and I'm going to assume was carrying it happily. She told my Mother-In-Law, "I hope my Mommy sees me doing this."