17 March 2011

Chore Charts and Behavior Charts

So, as I mentioned, I am overwhelmed. I feel like I am on my own with my kids all. of. the. time. AND since they are adjusting to a new normal around our house they have been VERY difficult. Really, I think some days they are spending time plotting ways to make ME crazy.

Then I was given the chance to review http://www.goalforit.com/ ! Yeah! I was needing SOME help, ANY help. *sigh* Well, I went over to the site and looked around. We have been using it for several weeks now and the Chore Charts have been great! I have just printed them out and taped them up in the kitchen so that I can draw a star on the chart as soon as the chore has been completed. I was not crazy about going upstairs to the office to check off things on the computer. If our laptop was cooperating it would have been great to do it online in the kitchen. Anyway, James has started putting on his own pajamas just so he can get a star. Kirstyn will now brush her teeth twice per day just to "accomplish" something on her chart that doesn't really feel like a chore! The kids have also liked how their charts are just for them. James' is blue with race cars and Kirstyn's is pink (of course) with a rock star on it!

The behavior charts haven't been as immediately gratifying. We are still trying to find a way for these to work for our family. What do you do at your house? Right now I am really struggling with Kirstyn 'back-talking' me every single time I tell her to do something. And James, well he is struggling with controlling his body! He resorts to hitting far to often. Anyway, we are trying!

All in all, we have loved http://www.goalforit.com/ for getting the kids to doing their chores around the house! I just wish there was an iPhone app, then maybe the behavior ones would work better for us. I would be able to track and correct those issues visibly even when we are on the GO. Go check it out and let me know what you think and if it works for you! I think next I will do some goal setting of my own and track MY progress.

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Changes

Well, hello Blog Land! It has been so long since I logged into my blog, I was actually shocked that I remembered my password. Much has been going on at our house and well, life has just gotten in the way of my blogging.... and my reader, well, lets just say that I am terrified to even see how far behind I am. I am sure there will be a "mark all as read" day in my near future!

Some changes:
David resigned from his job as an insurance agent and we sold our business to his mom.
I went to work part time for my Mother In Law
Kirstyn started 1st grade!
Things got VERY stressful when David could not find a job and was unemployed for 7 months!
The Gold's Gym I was working out in and teaching Body Pump at, closed with NO notice (and still owes me payroll that I never expect to see).
I found a Body Pump class to teach at the Downtown Fort Worth YMCA.
I've gained 15 lbs and have to get myself under control ASAP.
I MISS my gym "family".
David found a job that he LOVES.
He works 11 and 12 hour days, when you add in commute, there are days that he doesn't even see the kids.
I'm overwhelmed more often than not, so if you pray.... please think of me.

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