Incentives

I've wanted to start G on an incentive chart.  Creating a chart has been on my "To Do" list for months.

Then, after one tough day, I simply grabbed a scrap of paper and drew 4 lines across it.  I wrote in 2 topics to help Mr. Peter and 2 just for me:

- Wake up; no arguing.

- Prepare for nap.  No trouble.

- Good rest.  No trouble.

- Clean up before bed.

10 smiley faces = $1

Done.

And it's been working great.

G is excited when he gets it right.  He just had one of his best weeks ever.  He's learning about money.  He's learning about handling disappointment when he doesn't earn the smiley.  He's learning that after he makes a bad choice and reaps a consequence, he still has the ability to make a good choice next time.  All good.

Plus - I realized that we've got to get going with learning bible verses.  First up: "Do everything without complaining and arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God."

He's learning it.

That verse works well with his incentive chart because he doesn't earn a smiley if he complains, argues, or delays obedience.  Great stuff. 

And - let's face it - the verse has been good for me to think on too.

Striving to keep running with purpose in every step!

In My Home

 

My friends came over on Friday.

In the old days, I might have sounded like this: “Oh, those are some photos I took…. Yes, that's the candle I bought while on vacation…. I decided to paint this wall yellow….”

Now I sound like this: “Oh, that’s an incentive chart I made for G…. Yes, those faces remind us that even when we’ve made sad choices, we can choose a smiling face next…. I decided to create this calming spot for him….”

How things change.

Quotable G

 

When explaining why he made a bad choice:

 “I wasn’t thinking in my brain.”

 

After starting school:

 “I don’t like being shy, but my body says: Be Shy!”

 

When explaining why he let fellow Kindergartner Kenya be unkind:

“She looks good so I didn’t want to make her mad.”

 

When reciting the alphabet:

 “… H, I, J, K, em-el-enno-pee, Q, R, S…”

 

When I signed him up for a introduction to basketball class (knowing that he can barely dribble):

“They’ll probably make 2 teams and then everyone will clap for me!”

 

 

Budget Insanity

 

I read this in a CitizenLink newsletter:

“We have a family that is spending $38,200 per year. The family’s income is $21,700 per year. The family adds $16,500 in credit card debt every year in order to pay its bills. After a long and difficult debate among family members, keeping in mind that it was not going to be possible to borrow $16,500 every year forever, the parents and children agreed that a $380/year premium cable subscription could be terminated. So now the family will have to borrow only $16,120 per year.”

The newsletter said that if you take those numbers and multiply everything by 100 million, that is exactly what our government has been doing.

Blows my mind.

 

Orphanage Observation

This summer we were able to visit with some special friends.  These families all include children who grew up in the same orphanage where G used to live.

One thing I noticed again when talking to other adoptive moms is how often their children report that, in an orphanage, the other children were mean to them.  I just don't hear about children describing their orphanage as a safe, kind place.

It's hard to pause and consider how many children today are growing up in orphanages, even the "better ones."

Children need families.

Just sayin'.

Dinner Table Conversation

Me: "What happened at school today, G?"

G (full of drama): "I was da line leader an this boy he said to go there but I said I's the line leader so then he bash me in da nose!"

Me: "He bashed you in the nose?  So what did you do then?"

G (complete self righteous confidence): "Wewl, I turned like dis, and I carefully bash him."

Me: "G, when there is trouble, I want you to remember that you can tell your teacher.  It's not a good choice to bash people."

G (patiently trying to help the slow-minded mama to understand): "Mama.  I CAREFULLY bash him."

What do I know?  He came home with all of his stars (kindergarten motivation system).  Maybe the modern education includes careful bashing.  Maybe?