that's because we have started a new system in an attempt to curb the constant
bickering, kvetching and complaining about who gets to go first, pick the first
book, choose the show on tv or get into the car first. Or get out of the car
first. Or sit on the big chair at the kitchen counter. You get the idea.
This behavior was driving me and Josh completely insane. Like right off the
deep end. And then the other day, Family Fun magazine arrived in the mail. I
really like this magazine, it has tons of ideas for things to do with kids. I
fold in almost every page and then proceed to never do any of the things that I
folded in. Except this time. This time I read an article about a mom who's kids
were eerily similiar to mine. Her solution: Kid of the Day. It's exactly what it sounds
like. Each day a different kid is anointed "kid of the day" and that kid gets to
do whatever it is that is causing the problem, first. First out of the house,
first into the car, first to get a drink, first to pick a story. First first
first. That's what's it all about.
It was a little unclear to me how this mom implemented her idea - a chart, maybe.
I told Josh about this whole Kid of the Day thing and he was intrigued. I kinda feel like he
would have said yes to anything (at some point the idea of some strategically
placed duct tape over some mouths was discussed) as long as it worked. I went
with a picture wheel. I used some tape to make it, so it's kind of like we used
both of our ideas.
There are many different ways this could have played out. My first thought
was to use 5x7 index cards and draw each kid's name on a card and decorate it
with stickers. Then I was going to put all four cards into one of those cheapo
plastic 5x7 magnetic frames and stick it on the fridge. We would then rotate the
cards each day. I was ready, I was pumped. And then I realized that had no 5x7
index cards and no 5x7 magnetic frames - and I really didn't feel like a trip to
AC Moore. I know. Maybe I had fever or something.
Anyway, this is what we did. Dipping into the art box, I pulled out some
different papers and some markers. I cut, colored and glued the background
together. Then I cut out a circle from some more paper and attached it to the
background with a paper fastener. I had a whole big bag of them from when we
made these pin wheels. Those were really cute.
But I digress. With the big circle attached to the other paper, I used a
sharpie and drew lines on the circle, dividing it into four sections. I cut out
a picture of each kid and and glued one in each section. And that was it. I
added some sticky-backed magnets to the back of the paper so the Kid of the Day
wheel can live on the fridge, but it can just as easily live on a wall with some
tape.
The plan is to rotate the wheel one space, clockwise, each morning.
And the next kid becomes Kid of the Day. We're only on day one so I can't
comment on how well this will work, but it has to be better than clicking your heels
together three times and hoping that when you open your eyes, it would already be bedtime.