To attend book club this month, I had to pay a babysitter since Andrew was off hiking Mt. Saint Helens and some other peaks.
Clearly, Andrew had a good time. We made lots of plans while he was away and enjoyed ourselves (twice James declared he had the best day of his life) until Isabelle got another bad ear infection. She felt miserable and it was sad to see her so sick. We're glad Daddy is back. Book club was a needed break while Andrew was away for 5 nights.
While at book club, I ate way too many cookies. Have you tried Crave cookies yet? You should. I'll say it-- I think they taste better than Crumbl. (For sure the chocolate chip cookie.) While on my sugar high, I noticed and admired the chore charts on display on Mary's refrigerator. I spent a lot of time in her kitchen near those cookies. It got me thinking, why don't I have charts for my kids? I've heard ladies at book club talking about doing a "mom store," but I guess I tuned them out. What was I thinking??
Chore charts. Who knew something so small could make such a significant difference? If only I'd started them sooner. I decided to give chore charts a whirl. If anything, I could just toss the charts in the trash and not tell a soul. Instead, I'm writing a sermon to explain why chore charts will enhance your life. I will be bringing chore charts up out at the October book club. (We're reading, "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" which I think is worth your time.)
Now maybe the thrill will wear off, but we're 2 weeks in, and picking out a sticker to put on said charts is still just as exciting as ever. I didn't buy boring stickers. Bring on Halloween witches, Paw Patrol characters, and emojis. I haven't quite reached the lamination level yet because we're still trying to figure out exactly what chores our kids should do. I found a free and easy online template and print off a new chore chart each week. They have fun themes like superheroes and mermaids, although someone was quite upset I dared to pick a mermaid chore chart.
Chores are now just part of our routine and involve a lot less whining.
How it works
Chore charts are on our refrigerator. As the kids complete their chores throughout the day, they choose a sticker to put on their chore chart. This has been excellent reading practice for my kindergartener. My house is so tidy. James likes routines and plans and he is thriving. He keeps giving me more ideas for chores to add to his chart. He's even started showering on his own in the mornings and getting dressed and ready for school independently. (This isn't even on his chore chart, but his plan.) Once a week, the kids get paid for their chores. We use fake money because who has cash these days? The kids have envelopes to help them keep track of their money. A couple of times a month, the kids get to spend their money at the "Mom Store." I like that this is teaching my kids about money too.
We had the first "Mom Store" today. I think it was cool enough to make the kids keep up with their chores. Izzy was grateful for the "mom store" in her prayer which says a lot. She likes to keep prayers mega short. Izzy bought a princess coloring book and bubblegum with her money. James bought a Halloween craft kit. It came with a canvas pumpkin to paint. The afternoon blew by since the kids were busily coloring/painting. Sitting next to Isabelle while she chewed her first piece of gum was the best part of my day. She was so concerned that she would swallow it. After one bite, she said she was ready to spit it out. I explained to her that you usually chew gum for a while. She got used to it and probably chewed for 10 minutes. James and Izzy both attempted to blow a bubble which was unsuccessful. James' gum ended up on the floor. We'll try again tomorrow. James' art is hanging on the door and he requested that we keep it forever. He eagerly showed Andrew his creation the instant Andrew walked upstairs.
All of us are giddy about the chore charts! I guess I better keep going to book club. Who knows what the next life-changing thing will be? For now, I'm crossing my fingers for more gooey chocolate chip cookies at the October meeting.
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