Mommy Monday

We have been consistently inconsistent about chores and allowance around here.  We tried giving Jesse an allowance over a year ago but we quickly learned he was not old enough to handle money and saving and our house was filling up with cheap $1 toys.  So, we stopped after a while.  There are things that we expect the kids to do and we don't let them get away without doing them: taking their dishes to the sink after eating and feeding the dog.  We have those down.  But we are getting to the point where we know they are old enough to be doing more and also old enough to get some allowance.  Jesse is also learning about money at school so we thought it would be a good time to start again.  The question for us has always been how to make not make a do a job, get paid system.  So, this is what we came up with for now:

Jesse and Karis each have a chart (that have been up on the wall for two years now!).

The top section includes responsibilities that come with being a part of the family and taking care of yourself: clearing the table, taking care of the pet, getting dressed and putting away toys.  They will get a set amount of allowance every week for being a part of the family, we are sharing the family income with them.  So, the expectation is that if they share in the family earnings, they also share in the family responsibilities.  But, each individual chore is not "earned".  The honor jobs are those things that go above and beyond the expected responsibilities (the meaning of honor).  They will be paid extra for doing these things (for Jesse: making his bed and taking out the compost) if they do them at least five times a week. 

The bottom section lists chores that are to be done on the weekend.  There are also heart habits listed, things that we would like them to work on personally.  For Jesse, it is showing respect and apologizing without being prompted.  They will get a smiley every time we "catch" them doing these habits and when they have a certain combined total, they get to chose where we eat on the weekend. 
We will make them tithe part of their earnings and they are not allowed to spend any of it until it is a certain amount (that way we eliminate the cheap toys). 
So, here's our attempt to instill responsibility, intentional heart building and money management!
I will let you know how long it lasts!

How have you handled family responsibility and allowance in your family? 

Mommy Monday

It's a rainy, dreary afternoon here.  Jesse had off from school today.  After a morning at McDonald's Playland, the older kids I played a few games of UNO.  It is a lot of fun now that they are old enough to play games (real games, not Candyland).  I love playing games, it is something that is an easy way for me to engage the kids.  But play in general is hard for me.  I have been convicted over the years about not getting down on the floor and playing with my kids enough.  I often need to physically pull myself away from my agenda and engage them.  Isn't funny how hard it is for us grownups to play?  I would think we would jump at the chance to stop life and be a child again.  I used to play house by the hours when I was a kid but not when Karis asks me to play house with her, I hesitate and I stall, I don't know quite what to do.  Most of the time I can divert her attention- a tea party game, setting up her doll house, playing babies, these things are a lot easier for me.  Some things I enjoy doing with Silas right now are sitting on the floor with him and pushing cars back and forth, setting up train tracks and pushing the trains around.  With Jesse, I like to play chess (when the other kids are occupied), build Legos.  I have learned over the years that it doens't have to be elaborate play, they really just want my attention.
I am trying to work at losing my inhibitions and my to do list and engage more.  Sometimes I think it is just a matter of poor time management and mis-ordered priorities.  I am trying to be better at both of these things, I am thankful that because of God's grace, it is never too late!

What are some ways you play with your kids? 
What is hard about playing for you?  

Tuesday's Truth

The truth of the matter is....

- This day light's savings thing has got to stop. Seriously, whoever thought of this brilliant idea apparently didn't have children.  I am pretty sure we could do away with it and everyone would be just fine.  Sheesh. 

- Buying a new car is an all consuming, practically part-time job...at least for us it is.  I am happy to report that we have the brand spankin new car in the driveway and returned the ugly rental to it's rightful place tonight.  Case closed.  Almost.  We need to go over to the insurance company tomorrow and sign some papers.  In another town.  At dinnertime.  Then we will done.  Finally.

- I really love my VW minivan, I really do.  And I love the added perk that we get free maintenance for the first two years.  The only problem is that the dealership has really slow, horrible service.  I went in yesterday morning for a twenty minute fix up and left two hours later with a rental car and was late to get Karis at preschool.  Thank God I had a friend who was able to pick her up but the plans for the rest of my day were ruined.

So, my week hasn't gotten off to a good start.  I found myself thinking longingly back to last week and my diligence around the house.  Now I am looking at a trashed house and I am feeling more behind than ever.  But, the real truth of the matter is that in all of the above situations that started my week (with the exception of the day light's savings, there is no redemption there) I have a multitude of things to be thankful for. 

- We have a new car.  A brand new, beautiful car that fits all three kids in the back and gets great gas mileage.  We are blessed.

- We haven't paid for an oil change in two years. 

- As I was stuck in the itty bitty kid's playroom at the dealership yesterday morning, I got to hang out with Silas and learn more about his funny personality.  He did great.  Over an hour in that tiny room with a ball, a few puzzles and a bucket.  We had a blast. 

- I have a wonderful friend who is like a sister to me, who I can call (almost!) anytime and she will help me out.  I am blessed.

- Amidst the chaos and the messy house, I have two kids who are growing up before my eyes.  Karis asked (begged) to get her ears pierced today (because all the girls in her class are- preschool, really?!).  The thought both scares and awes me.  When did she get so grown up?  Jesse took communion for the first time on Sunday and it was such a blessing to share that with him.  Tonight he asked to pray before dinner and it was a very thoughtful prayer that showed how much God is working in his heart.

I have been grumbling a lot today.  Something that Ann Voskamp has been teaching me is that when I allow the bitterness and complaining to win out over gratitude, I am missing the gifts that God has already given me, that he continues to give all the time.  So, now at the close of the day, I stop and look and see that He is indeed in every moment.  And I choose to be grateful.   

Snowday Take Two

Wordless Wednesday....a picture says a thousand words.