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    Boot Camp for Kids

    Posted by Grateful on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 @ 07:59 AM  

    I have had it with rude, whining, reluctant, unhelpful, fighting kids. I have had it with being tired of constantly reminding and policing. So. Boot Camp has commenced.

    No toys. No TV. No play dates. No treats. No privileges. All they have is books and a chair...and chores, and homework. They must do what they are asked and reply with an immediate YES MOM and do it. If they don't, they will be very busy. I am no longer feeling patient, kind or forgiving...that was not doing any of us any favors, and was only making me tired and crabby.

    So, I am hitting the reset button. The kids are getting a reality check, and will start being better self managers, being kind to each other and attending to tasks that need to be done. Mamma has had it.

    1
    Reply by Dave on January 19, 2010 @ 08:36 AM

    Do the world a huge favor and tell it to all your friends who just can't wait to have kids.

    Dave


    2
    Reply by Grateful on January 19, 2010 @ 03:54 PM
    (A reply to comment #1)

    Yep, this having kids thing is certainly not easy at times...it takes a lot of patience, creativity, energy and persistence...not to mention money, time and work. If you happen to have a child that has some outside the norm challenges, the ante is upped considerably on all levels. I am currently at a loss, having led the horses to water, they are refusing to drink. I am sure that I can make them want to drink though, 'cause the alternatives are not a lot of fun....so Boot Camp commences at 15:30 hours! Wahooo!


    3
    Reply by Grateful on January 19, 2010 @ 07:13 PM
    (A reply to comment #2)

    Today was a good day...the kids had no choices. They came home, ate what I wanted to fix, played outside (without toys) and came in to do homework. They did a really good job of homework, until some ants showed up in their pants....at which point I ran them around the property for 15 minutes. Brianna came back in and refused to finish her homework, and started whining. She was immediately put to bed without dinner. Oh brother was she mad. (don't worry, she had a PB&J and applesauce when she got home from school, so she won't starve). Zachary had an AWESOME night. He did have to go to bed an hour early, as he did not get up when I asked this morning, but he is doing great...listening, and doing what he is told the first time. It is only the first full day of boot camp, but they get that Mamma Means It. It has been a successful day. Whew!


    4
    Reply by Heatherdawn on January 20, 2010 @ 12:03 AM
    (A reply to comment #3)

    It might be the time of year, or the weather, or some Todnem genes...can't be my genes cause Bri and Zach don't share any of those... Big Grin but Kadie's having a rough go at it herself. We haven't reached boot camp levels yet, but she certainly has her moments.

    Even during those times though, I wouldn't give her up for the world and would never recommend against having children simply because they can be difficult to handle at times. J.F.K., Donald Trump, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Gates, Beethoven, and Emily Dickinson are all examples of people who have changed our world in great ways...and they were not first-born children. Indeed, Thomas Edison was the last of seven children and I'd hate to think of where we might be without him.

    Nothing in this world that is worth having is easy to handle 100 percent of the time, but it's those moments of triumph (where our children commit acts of pure love and unselfishness, or astound us with their clear and precise views on how things really should be, not how us cynical adults have made them to be) that makes the effort, trials, sleepless nights, and aggravation so worth it.

    Hang in there, Lisa. In this area of life, the light at the end of the tunnel is rarely a train.


    5
    Reply by Grateful on January 20, 2010 @ 05:45 AM
    (A reply to comment #4)

    I actually do think that we have a combination of weather/cabin fever going on here too...we just keep having great, cloudy, foggy days...wet with not much sunshine. I know that I am feeling it. But, the kids are also pushing, and Brianna is outright telling me NO and giving me attitude. Zachary generally does not give me much attitude, but he is just getting out of control frustrated, and I think not working as hard as he needs to. They need some incentive, and they are getting it in spades. I have another twelve minutes of coffee and quiet before the Boot Camp commences for the day.

    For the record, I too do not think that having children is an irresponsible choice...but I do believe there are a lot of people out there making irresponsible choices when it comes to parenthood. What make me mad is when the kids pay the price and are neglected, abandoned or abused. Every child deserves to be adored and loved...and taught to be successful.


    6
    Reply by Grateful on January 21, 2010 @ 06:03 AM

    Boot Camp, day 3...so far, the kids do not seem to miss the toys. They have nothing to play with, so they are doing a good job of playing with each other, without fighting, crabbing and screeching.

    Homework has been a HUGE success this week, mostly as there is not anything else to do.

    For the most part, they are being obedient, listening and respectful. I am quite impressed. I am only telling them to do something once, and there is an immediate consequence if they don't do it. I have not had to trail around behind them asking multiple times to get something done. I have not had to walk them each through the process of getting ready for school in the morning.

    Zachary and Brianna had each earned one toy back last night. Brianna lost it before she even got it. Zachary did his homework (which was considerable!) and his chores, and was able to play for a few minutes...until I found him hiding under his bed with another toy...in his defense, he did TRADE, he was not playing with both...but, he got it taken away.

    They are catching on...I just need to continue to hold up my end of the deal. Whew!



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