Getting Organized:
In your Home and Homeschool
Dear Friends,
How do I get my children invloved in the daily routines? This question has been asked of me more than once, and as you are wrapping up summer vacation and moving into your school schedule, you just want some normalcy to your daily routines.
First, you have to have your routines in place. If you are asking your children to pick up behind themselves or get dressed first thing in the morning, you need to be doing these things, too. If you want your children to make their beds, you need to be making your bed.
You also need a good attitude about it. If you are playing the martyr, they will pick up on that. They will mirror that attitude. You need to have JOY in doing your daily routines. Your routines provide structure and give you peace. Your routines help you declutter and maintain your home.
You have are the one who is influencing your children in how they will approach caring for themselves and their homes as adults. They may not like you making changes and asking more of them, but it is for their benefit. You have to have some built in rewards, too.
Think back to your childhood. You carry some baggage from punishments that centered around doing tasks around the house. Your inclination is to do the same thing to your children. Resist this tendency. You do not have to use negative causes in every case.
When your children do well with a routine, praise them. Talk to them about stringing their routines into a habit that is formed after practicing. The FlyLady gives us a month to practice new routines. You need to give this grace to your children if you are expecting them to develop new habits.
In our family, we use activities as rewards. You can do this as well. You do not have to make rewards about buying them more things. (smile) Try to have clutter-free rewards as much as possible.
Are you ready to go on your new school year?
Your Home Blessing for today is to dust and vacuum.
Your Zone Mission for today is to declutter and dust the flat surfaces in your Living Room.
My menu plan for Tuesday is soup and sandwiches. Veggies and salad for me.
Have a blessed day!
