Summer break is half-way over for most of us, and if you're anything like me, the magic wore off exactly 4.7 minutes after it started. I am a SAHM, so school dictates the bulk of our schedule 9 months out of the year. Then June comes along and says, 'Hey, you! Suck it up and wing it!' WHAA? We need some consistency around these parts, or these moody, hormonal beasts are going to perform a coup and go all Lord Of The Flys on my unsuspecting butt.
Funtime is officially over at Chez Shannon. My boys have had 4 weeks of no bedtime, no homework, no responsibility and no vegetables. What do we have to show for it? Children who smell funny, are irritable, and can't poop. How do I crack the whip and avoid total mutiny?
I lie, that's how.
If all these years of parenting has taught me anything, it's that a cleverly placed lie will keep me off the drink nicely. It makes my life easier, and that is my main goal these days. Well, that and liposuction, but that's another story entirely.
The lie of the week? Chores RAWK.
Our two biggest obstacles during summer break are keeping up on the housework and keeping food in the pantry. Once puberty pokes it's head in your door, it eats everything in it's path. My kids snack All. Day. Long. And then they won't eat their broccoli, since they're all full of Sponge Bob gummies. I managed to tackle both problems with one easy solution; A Schedule.
My kids thrive on schedules. We have a weekly dinner schedule, a nightly tv schedule, and I figured, 'Heck! Why not try it with snacks and stuff?' Our schedule goes something like this:
Breakfast is at 10 (my kids wake up late. Feel free to hate me)
Lunch is at 12. The time inbetween breakfast and lunch is to used for OUTSIDE time (read; mom's reading blogs)
Snack time is at 3, and only 3. Last time I checked, I didn't have cookies baking under my skirt or an apple tree in the backyard. One snack a day seems more than ample.
Directly after snack time, we do chores. ALL OF US. Even the toddler has a chore to do (putting the soap in the dishwasher.) The Wii goes off, the friends go home, and we all work together to get our assigned chores done.
Dinner is at 5:30. After dinner, everyone goes back outside for playtime in the cool air.
Dessert is at 8, baths after that, and god willing, all of these kids are in bed by 9:30.
In order to get them to comply willingly with this, I had to get creative. I had to tell them how loading the dishwasher was a great way to learn geometry, and that mopping helped develop arm muscles. I had to give them a bottle of LySol and let them pretend it was World War IV, and the germs in the bathroom were the enemy. I had to tell them that Comet contained deadly chemicals, and it was a testament to my faith in their age and level of personal responsibility that I'd even consider handing them a bottle of it.
Maybe none of that is exactly a lie, but it's all certainly a stretch. And I am totally okay with that. Why? Because my house looks great, and I didn't have to do it all myself.
Later, I'd like to discuss chores specifically; what's appropriate at this age level, how much allowance should be paid, etc. Please feel free to leave comments over the next week and I'll come up with a post based on your input!
