We've been working out lately, using P90X as a way to get fit. We absolutely love it and I am finally in my second brand of size 10 Jeans!! (I have a theory that you aren't really a certain size unless you can fit into more than one brand of that size...) I have now gone from a 16 to a 10 in about 3 1/2 months.
Today, after our Kenpo X (Karate) workout today, my husband and I were discussing a song that was on the radio. It was the kind of song that would play in the soundtrack of a movie as someone was training for a big fight (you would see the people, dripping with sweat, moving in perfect synchronicity in slow motion) and then the action would start. We would walk down the stairs in our house, primed for battle, and open the door to a hoard of zombies and then the butt-kicking would begin!
We have decided that we're really not in training to be fit, we're in combat training to be safe in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Now, to take that a bit further, my daughters have been in the room and have been doing their own 4 year old and 15 month-old versions of P90X, so I guess that they're in training too. So, when the Apocalypse happens, look us up. We will be a troupe of butt-kicking, zombie-ripping, ab crunching maniacs!
I realize now that this post makes no sense but when we were talking about this in the morning, it was hysterical! I'm going to publish this post, though, because I still think it's funny.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Money Jar
Ingredients:
2 Jars (Mason, Spaghetti Sauce, etc.)
Coins
Unruly Child
Step 1. Decide on target behaviors (we decided to work on talking instead of whining, eating meals without complaining, sharing, following directions the first time she's asked and being quiet when I'm on the phone). Assign a monetary amount to each behavior (following directions is worth 10 cents, everything else is worth 5.)
Step 2. Explain rules to unruly child. Explain that if they, for example, follow directions the first time they're asked to do something they will earn 10 cents. Likewise, if they don't meet the targeted behaviors (and start whining, for example) 5 cents from her jar will go into my jar. Also explain that "extra" coins can be earned for super duper extra helpful and kind actions.
Step 3. Watch said unruly child turn into a perfect angel and magically decide that they have to clean up the play room, take her blanket upstairs, and share with her sister. Oh, and be consistent.
Step 4. Call your friend and thank her for the idea because, at least for one day, you didn't have to fight with your daughter. Hug your daughter and love her.
Step 5. Call your mom and thank her for raising you. I don't know about you, but my mom did it all alone-and I don't know how she did it. Love you, Mom!
Remember-change the goals as your child masters them and remember-this is a positive reinforcement technique. The amount of money doesn't matter to the child as much as the fact that they can see items being put in or taken out of their jar. If you don't feel comfortable with money use something else that your child really cares about. We're saving up Olivia's coins to buy a DVD or a Barbie-whichever she decides she wants more.
2 Jars (Mason, Spaghetti Sauce, etc.)
Coins
Unruly Child
Step 1. Decide on target behaviors (we decided to work on talking instead of whining, eating meals without complaining, sharing, following directions the first time she's asked and being quiet when I'm on the phone). Assign a monetary amount to each behavior (following directions is worth 10 cents, everything else is worth 5.)
Step 2. Explain rules to unruly child. Explain that if they, for example, follow directions the first time they're asked to do something they will earn 10 cents. Likewise, if they don't meet the targeted behaviors (and start whining, for example) 5 cents from her jar will go into my jar. Also explain that "extra" coins can be earned for super duper extra helpful and kind actions.
Step 3. Watch said unruly child turn into a perfect angel and magically decide that they have to clean up the play room, take her blanket upstairs, and share with her sister. Oh, and be consistent.
Step 4. Call your friend and thank her for the idea because, at least for one day, you didn't have to fight with your daughter. Hug your daughter and love her.
Step 5. Call your mom and thank her for raising you. I don't know about you, but my mom did it all alone-and I don't know how she did it. Love you, Mom!
Remember-change the goals as your child masters them and remember-this is a positive reinforcement technique. The amount of money doesn't matter to the child as much as the fact that they can see items being put in or taken out of their jar. If you don't feel comfortable with money use something else that your child really cares about. We're saving up Olivia's coins to buy a DVD or a Barbie-whichever she decides she wants more.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
I've turned into an A-word
I think I'll write today about becoming an a-word, no, not that one, an adult-and knowing finally, that you are one. That may not read like it sounded in my head but I think you'll catch my drift in a minute.
I recently had someone say to me that my husband and I have made good choices on how to raise our kids and that she wasn't sure if she and her husband would be able to do that. (In effect we've both stayed home with them at different times-depending on which one was set to make more money) and have been happy with that. We have both worked at the same time, too, but juggled our schedules so that we could have our children in day care the least amount possible. This is in no way a slam on parents who both work or on single parents who have their children in daycare because I, too, have had jobs that I loved and don't know if I would have wanted to give them up to stay home. There have also been times when we couldn't financially or weren't willing to give up one of our jobs and that was the best choice we could make at that time.
What I take this person to have meant was that we have decided to put our personal desires on hold, and have decided to live more simply in order to have these years with our girls. It was not a decision that was easy to make and it has taken us a long time to figure these lessons out.
I really believe that people do the best they can with what they have. We had the luck to live in a place where we could get a mortgage based only on my husband's income and I can work part time when he is home to pay for the rest. We also don't mind doing that and tend to have a blast during our family time together. Our way is not the right way for many others, but it's working for us right now.
So, how do you know that you're really an a...a...adult. That wasn't so painful now, was it? We now sit down together and make decisions in a carefully thought out way. We research. We ask for advice and help. We have to balance out what we want (such as a new deck, a garden shed, a new car) with what we need (food, a home and a newer car...ding, ding...we have a winner!) What we get may not always be what we want but it is what we need at the time. That last part isn't really so different from what it was before but this is the difference-we don't really mind. Kids spend a lot of time being frustrated or upset about what they may not have ("Mommy, I wanted Goldfish in a BIG bowl!") but adults, for the most part, deal with the size of the bowl they are given. And, if they are taught right when they were kids, will thank the giver no matter what the size of the bowl (even if, inside, they know that someone else got a bigger bowl and that's just NOT FAIR!)
Although I may have some frustration around what I want and what I can acutally get I try really hard not to dwell on that. Otherwise, what is the point of making the sacrifices? We all need to be thankful for what we have and own the choices we have made. We need to live in the present but plan for the future. We should all be proud of our adult self. We have made choices to bring us to that point and I'm proud of us.
I recently had someone say to me that my husband and I have made good choices on how to raise our kids and that she wasn't sure if she and her husband would be able to do that. (In effect we've both stayed home with them at different times-depending on which one was set to make more money) and have been happy with that. We have both worked at the same time, too, but juggled our schedules so that we could have our children in day care the least amount possible. This is in no way a slam on parents who both work or on single parents who have their children in daycare because I, too, have had jobs that I loved and don't know if I would have wanted to give them up to stay home. There have also been times when we couldn't financially or weren't willing to give up one of our jobs and that was the best choice we could make at that time.
What I take this person to have meant was that we have decided to put our personal desires on hold, and have decided to live more simply in order to have these years with our girls. It was not a decision that was easy to make and it has taken us a long time to figure these lessons out.
I really believe that people do the best they can with what they have. We had the luck to live in a place where we could get a mortgage based only on my husband's income and I can work part time when he is home to pay for the rest. We also don't mind doing that and tend to have a blast during our family time together. Our way is not the right way for many others, but it's working for us right now.
So, how do you know that you're really an a...a...adult. That wasn't so painful now, was it? We now sit down together and make decisions in a carefully thought out way. We research. We ask for advice and help. We have to balance out what we want (such as a new deck, a garden shed, a new car) with what we need (food, a home and a newer car...ding, ding...we have a winner!) What we get may not always be what we want but it is what we need at the time. That last part isn't really so different from what it was before but this is the difference-we don't really mind. Kids spend a lot of time being frustrated or upset about what they may not have ("Mommy, I wanted Goldfish in a BIG bowl!") but adults, for the most part, deal with the size of the bowl they are given. And, if they are taught right when they were kids, will thank the giver no matter what the size of the bowl (even if, inside, they know that someone else got a bigger bowl and that's just NOT FAIR!)
Although I may have some frustration around what I want and what I can acutally get I try really hard not to dwell on that. Otherwise, what is the point of making the sacrifices? We all need to be thankful for what we have and own the choices we have made. We need to live in the present but plan for the future. We should all be proud of our adult self. We have made choices to bring us to that point and I'm proud of us.
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