Training My Children

I’m not sure the title is what I’m trying to convey in this post but I couldn’t think of anything else.  There are two points I would like to share with you. 

The first: one day last week my boys were…well let’s just say they were not behaving very well and I had had enough.  I was done being their referee and parole officer.  All the usual “punishment” techniques weren’t working so I tried something new.  I told them that if they couldn’t get along they were going to have to do some manual labor.  Of course they tested me (and learned once again that I do follow through on what I say) and then proceeded to spend the next hour cleaning the apartment.  Not the usual pick-up-your-toys clean; oh no.   I had them clean the bathroom (minus the toilet b/c I’m not ready for that lesson yet), dust everything in the apartment, and then clean the kitchen cabinets (something that really needed to be done and that I had been putting off for several weeks).  Now, they didn’t do the kind of cleaning job I would have done, but for 5 & 3 year-olds, they did a pretty decent job; but it wasn’t about the cleaning anyway.  It was about getting them to work together (w/o fighting) which they did quite nicely. In fact, they enjoyed the work so maybe it wasn’t really a punishment after all, but at least I got those cabinets cleaned!

The second: I implemented a new morning policy for the boys today.  Normally in the morning they wake up before me and come to the “big room” (our living/dining/school/sewing/computer room) get their breakfast, run around, play on the computer and/or watch cartoons.  Sounds fine except when I wake up and it becomes time to get dressed/ready for the day- that’s when the whining and complaining begins.  Per our new morning policy the boys are required to get themselves dressed for the day, read at least one book (of which they must present to me an oral report) and clean their room which includes making the bed, putting their pajamas away and general tiding-up. 

The goal is to get them to start doing “chores” on their own and without me nagging them to get it done.  It also eliminates the whining that always follows turning off whatever electronic device is in use in order to get dressed/ready for the day ahead.  Now, some of you may say just don’t let them use any electronic device in the morning, but then you do not know me very well.  I NEED that extra hour of sleep in the morning, and with a baby on the way….oh, I cringe to think the sleep deprivation that is coming my way.

The new policy worked this morning and we’ve enjoyed a pleasant day so far.  I’ll let you know what changes might take place, good and/or bad. Below are some pics of the boys cleaning the cabinets.