It's Friday and I'm almost too overwhelmed to post something, but I hate that it's been days since I've even READ other people's blogs. I promise to catch up this weekend at home when I'm not completely bogged down with things to do.
My job has changed this week. Due to some major decisions at work, I am now supporting four executives instead of one. I'm not unhappy about it, but it does mean I am going to be busier than ever, with barely a moment to spare. As I sat eating my lunch yesterday, I felt so overwhelmed by the changes that it was difficult not to cry, but I know that with time I'll adjust and things will get easier. If my home life was going perfectly, it might help, but naturally things are hard there, too.
Something that the kids and I started last night was a list of "House Rules." We sat down and came up with a short list of very specific things that we want to stop doing in our house. Everyone has to follow them, including the grown ups, and after one warning, you get a five minute time out. Each wrongdoing after that within a short period of time adds five minutes to the time out, which my son was pleased to point out meant 10, then 15, then 20, then 25...we get the point. On the list are things like "No Yelling" and "No hitting or kicking" (my daughter insisted on the no kicking), as well as "No backtalk" and "Be respectful of others" which I figure covers a lot of things like manners and listening. I want to reward them for following the rules and sticking to them, but I haven't figured out how to go about that yet. My neighbor started a ticket system, where her kids earn tickets that they can accumulate for something good, such as a toy or a movie ticket. I was thinking the kids could choose a date night with mom and/or dad, all on their own, which I think they'd enjoy. Do any of you out there have a reward system that's working?
So far, so good today -- I started with a free Peppermint Mocha, and can only hope it will improve from there. It would be nice to not feel like I'm drowning for a bit.
5 comments:
Yikes - it sounds like your job is going to be very challenging. And, sorry to hear things are hard at home too. That makes it doubly hard. I don't have any magic ideas for the reward system - I like your idea of a date night. I always try to think of something rather than toys - special time with a parent is pretty awesome :-)
deep breath - remember your lamaze breathing dear!!
Good luck with work! I like the house rules. My kids are still very young so we give them "hearts" on their boards if they keep their rooms clean and don't whine. At the end of the week, they get to pick from the "treasure chest", which is basically a box of junk from the $1bins at Target. Don't ask me why it works, but it does.
I will keep you in my prayers about work & home, sometime life gets overwhelming, but after getting comfortable in your new role you will be great!
Don't you wish everyone would stop posting while you're busy?! I was busy this weekend and now I'm playing blog catch up today.
My kids are into stickers and when they do something good they get to pick out a sticker for their sticker books. My original plan was for them to pick out a treat when they get to 15 but they really just enjoy getting the stickers!
Now go get another pepp mocha and take a bubble bath!
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