The craziest thing happened today. Or rather, I should say, my oldest has been driving me crazy this week and finally, today, I figured out how to fix it.
My middle two kids have been in camp all week but camp for my oldest doesn't start for another week and so he has been home since school ended. Bored. Which is bad for me, bad for him and bad for me again.
I found myself telling him over and over to go find something to do, without my brain comprehending that a 6 year old has no idea what that means. None. Not a clue.
And then, as Josh was leaving to work this morning, and I stood by the door all sad and frowny because I was going to have to deal with Bored again today, he had a stroke of genius. Why don't you make him a schedule and write it down for him?
Brilliant. Although I do have to say, I was kind of annoyed that I didn't think of this great parenting idea myself. I mean, really, I am the queen of schedules that I don't follow, lists that I don't complete and diet plans that I can't stick to. But I am excellent at making those lists - especially for other people.
This should have been obvious to me. But I guess my brain has not been working at full speed since school ended and all of a sudden, when lunchtime rolled around, everyone looked at me. I was just going to have to some yogurt, but no, no one wanted to join me. They wanted a real lunch.
Anyway, I am way off topic here.
The point was that it took all of 30 seconds to make this kid a schedule and boy, did it work out well! He loved it, he checked the clock every once in a while to make sure he was on track and he stuck to it. In fact, he did not even complain when he read the schedule and realized that I had him down for three summer homework sessions a day!
I guess it really is all about structure for these kids. I forget that sometimes and I have to be better at remembering how important that is for to them.
Anyway, here is a peak at his schedule:
9-10am: play in the backyard (before it gets too hot)
10-10:15am - come inside, drink, have a snack and relax with mommy
10:15-10:30am - Hebrew reading summer work with mommy
10:30-11:15am - computer time
11:15-11:45 - math sumer work
11:45-12:15 pm - Wii Fit games
12:15-12:30pm - lunch with mommy
12:30-1:00 - quiet English summer homework reading
1-1:30pm - TV
1:30-2pm - board games with mommy
2-2:10pm - snack with mommy
2:10-3pm: free play/lego time with music
3pm - pick up other kids at camp
3:15pm-bedtime - play, fight, play outside, argue, play, fight some more with siblings
8:30pm - Mommy goes looking for a drink. Preferably on ice.
And there ya have it. Who knew reclaiming my sanity would be this simple?
My middle two kids have been in camp all week but camp for my oldest doesn't start for another week and so he has been home since school ended. Bored. Which is bad for me, bad for him and bad for me again.
I found myself telling him over and over to go find something to do, without my brain comprehending that a 6 year old has no idea what that means. None. Not a clue.
And then, as Josh was leaving to work this morning, and I stood by the door all sad and frowny because I was going to have to deal with Bored again today, he had a stroke of genius. Why don't you make him a schedule and write it down for him?
Brilliant. Although I do have to say, I was kind of annoyed that I didn't think of this great parenting idea myself. I mean, really, I am the queen of schedules that I don't follow, lists that I don't complete and diet plans that I can't stick to. But I am excellent at making those lists - especially for other people.
This should have been obvious to me. But I guess my brain has not been working at full speed since school ended and all of a sudden, when lunchtime rolled around, everyone looked at me. I was just going to have to some yogurt, but no, no one wanted to join me. They wanted a real lunch.
Anyway, I am way off topic here.
The point was that it took all of 30 seconds to make this kid a schedule and boy, did it work out well! He loved it, he checked the clock every once in a while to make sure he was on track and he stuck to it. In fact, he did not even complain when he read the schedule and realized that I had him down for three summer homework sessions a day!
I guess it really is all about structure for these kids. I forget that sometimes and I have to be better at remembering how important that is for to them.
Anyway, here is a peak at his schedule:
9-10am: play in the backyard (before it gets too hot)
10-10:15am - come inside, drink, have a snack and relax with mommy
10:15-10:30am - Hebrew reading summer work with mommy
10:30-11:15am - computer time
11:15-11:45 - math sumer work
11:45-12:15 pm - Wii Fit games
12:15-12:30pm - lunch with mommy
12:30-1:00 - quiet English summer homework reading
1-1:30pm - TV
1:30-2pm - board games with mommy
2-2:10pm - snack with mommy
2:10-3pm: free play/lego time with music
3pm - pick up other kids at camp
3:15pm-bedtime - play, fight, play outside, argue, play, fight some more with siblings
8:30pm - Mommy goes looking for a drink. Preferably on ice.
And there ya have it. Who knew reclaiming my sanity would be this simple?
