Want Productivity? CYT!

Match Socks

Clean Under the Couches

Organize the Book Shelf

Clean out the Toaster

Wipe off the Ceiling Fans

Clean under Mom's Bed

...Just some of the "Extra Jobs"

HAVE FUN!!!! :)

It's Spring Break this week and my kids would probably declare that they're deprived because EVERYONE else they know is in some warm, exotic place like Disneyland, Mexico, Florida, Hawaii, St. George, or on a cruise somewhere. (If EVERYONE is having the time of their life, why are all of their friends around to do things with???) So, instead of soaking up the sun, they're soaking up the dirt, dust, and clutter in our home that has long been neglected. Actually, they're earning money to pay off their debts they've incurred for all the excitement they're preparing for this summer. No, they're not happy about it, but I keep reminding them that they have money to earn if they want to enjoy the plans they've already made. 

I've waited for three days for my children to say, "Mom, what can I do to earn money." Well, it hasn't happened. It's one thing for Mom to say, "You really need to do some extra chores to earn some money." Yah, in one ear, out the other. So, I've resorted to this: "You're doing two hours of extra chores today after your regular chores are done and before you can do any fun stuff. And, here's the list of chores that need doin'." It's Called "CYT" or "Change Your Tactic". If it's not working, you need to change your tactic and try something else.

It's amazing when you put a list in front of them, the action that takes place. 

I ran out of room on the first list..had to make a second!

They fought over who could look at the list first and "claim" the coveted extra jobs like organizing the DVD's or replacing light bulbs, not matching socks or organizing the bathroom closet. I had to resort to a rotation: "You choose two jobs, mark your initials, then pass it on." We rotated through all the kids several times until most of the jobs were claimed. Then, they went to town cleaning. Wow, we haven't been that productive in a long time.

This guy surprised me the most! He completely cleaned under both couches AND vacuumed.

A job I've been wanting to get to for years...Organize all the File Folder Games

Hooray - Cleaning out the cupboards!! Yah, we won't mention what we found in there!

Cleaning and wiping out drawers. No more crumbs mixed in with the measuring cups! I hope you can relate!

Cleaning all the grody stuff off the washing machine!

She partnered with "zebra" and they kicked!

Finally got the buckets put back and organized after Christmas!

Oh, the blessings of an organized pantry!

Organizing the toys...seems like somebody's always doing this.

More organizing, more cleaning.

He put himself in time out. Wow!

Now, I've already given them fair warning that the same plan is in place for tomorrow. Hopefully we can get the rest of the list marked off! Create a list and some parameters. Once the task is met, reward and let them play. They deserve it!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Good Intent Becomes Success

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God"  D&C 109:8

I really like to be organized, but it doesn't always "stick". Why? Oh, reasons like it takes too much time, laziness, other things come up that take time away, bad habits, priorities, or the system just doesn't work. I've gone through times of excitement when I come up with a new system to organize the closet, or the desk, or the socks, or the plastic containers in the kitchen. Good intentions should be my mantra. I really do have them, but the a fore mentioned reasons seem to turn good intentions into non-existence. 

We have ten people in our family. Thus, laundry is a mammoth undertaking. I won't get started on the philosophy that a washing machine and dryer caused us to have more clothes as a society which now makes the laundry task completely time-consuming. If I did it all at once (which I do not), it would take a complete 14 hour day, just like it did the Bostonian women of the 1700s when they dedicated every Monday to laundry day. It's no different for us. We just have more dirty clothes to deal with. And compared to the days of old, our clothes aren't even that dirty. OK - I'll stop now.

Back to organizing.... there is one organizational system that has NOT gone by the wayside. I have successfully used it for years, and it has kept my laundry room running efficiently. (If the darn washing machine and dryer could just go faster, this part of my family responsibilities would really be in control. Maybe some day I'll have a second dryer! Now that would be a blessing!!) It's my laundry-sorting system that keeps clothes organized into colors, avoiding piles of clothes on the floor or sorting through multiple dirty clothes baskets to find enough whites to make a full load.

Six separate baskets keep clothes sorted and organized.

Labeled signs let all ages know which clothes go where.

It consists of six tall laundry hampers, labeled with names and pictures to distinguish what type of clothing belongs where. I separate the clothes into Darks, Lights, Whites, Jeans, Towels, and Bedding.

Our family laundry process goes like this:

One person is the designated "gatherer and sorter". He or she gathers all of the dirty laundry from each room, takes it down to the laundry room, and sorts it into the above laundry hampers. This is supposed to be a daily occurrence. Note the word "supposed". Even my four year old knows which clothes go where. No, she can't read yet, but she looks at the pictures and deposits the clothes into the correct bin. I've even seen her match up the clothing color to the color square on the sign to make sure she gets it right.

Since I'm the only one home during the day that is old enough to start laundry, I'm the designated one to wash and dry. Once the clothes are dry, I recruit all available troops to fold. Each person puts away their own piles of clean laundry.

Looking at my signs, I think it's time to upgrade; we need some new clip art and an upgraded font! Who says the laundry room has to be boring and drab?

That's my successful, organizational system for handling the immense volume of dirty laundry in the Bushman home. I'll give myself a pat on the back for actually "sticking" to it. It feels good to be organized in one area of my life, even if it's just dealing with dirty clothes. Now I just need to come up with a scheme for those sneaky and scrupulous socks. Any ideas?

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Watch your Words and "Stick" to your Guns

"Oh, the kind words we give, shall in memory live!"

Let us Oft Speak Kind Words - Hymn #232

My words are alive and well in the memory of this cutie!

That's the sass I'm talkin' about!

Yesterday, I was working with my three year old to empty the garbage cans in the house, one of her responsibilities. I was holding the trash bag for her while she fetched the various garbage cans around the house. I set the bag down and asked her to go get the cans from downstairs. She didn't like this plan. Using the logic learned from her mother, this is how the conversation went...

Cutie: "Mom, you have two choices. Hold the garbage bag and then I'll go and get the trash cans."

 

Mom: "That's only one choice." (Not like I need her to give me two choices)

 

Cutie: "No, two. You hold the bag, and I'll go and get the trash cans."

 

Mom: "No, that's only one choice. You need to go and get the trash cans and then I'll hold the bag."

 

Cutie: "Mom, if you don't choose, I will choose for you."

 

 

Wow - the things I say to my children really "Stick". Proof right here that the "words we give shall in memory live" - good or bad. Let's hope it's the former. 

By the way, I won. This is the rest of the conversation...

 

 

Mom: "OK, you have two choices. Go and get the garbage cans or you can take a nap."

 

Cutie: After thinking a moment, "This is so boring!" (Which older sibling did she learn that from?) She marched off to get the cans. Another successful obedience lesson!

 

Today's Stick-to-it Tips: Watch your words and "stick" to your guns!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

"Smell the Roses" and Remember, it's a Purple Shirt!

One of my worst fears is first, having a missing child, and second, 

not being able to remember what they were wearing that day!

Can you relate to this or am I just a bad mother? Truly, with all of the things I need to do and remember, I sometimes have a hard time recalling what my children are wearing that day. Was it a purple shirt or a red shirt? Jeans or shorts? Flip flops or tennis shoes? 

My little daughter taught me some lessons today about observation...

Grandma came to visit this morning. Like usual, when she sees a clean hamper of clothes that needs to be folded, she goes to work. My little lady LOVES to fold clothes when there's someone to fold with, so she quickly went over to assist. Grandma is a great folder but she doesn't know whose clothes are whose, which is understandable. With each item of clothing, she asked our cutie pie whose it was. This three year old could tell her whom each article belonged to, right down to the boxers....and she was correct, every time. It was incredible!

Telling Grandma whom the shorts belong to.

Folding brothers' boxers doesn't phase her. She hasn't moved into the "cooties" phase yet.

Notifying Grandma that she put the shorts in the wrong pile!

To me, a pair of jeans is a pair of jeans. A pink shirt looks a lot like another pink shirt. A pair of black basketball shorts is very similar to another child's black shorts. How is it that a three year old can pinpoint the smallest details and place ownership to them?

Observation...the act of noticing or perceiving. I know little children learn through observation, so how much more could I learn if I were to be more observant? Would I notice that one of my children was having a bad day, is sad or lonely? Would I notice an opportunity to serve? Would I see the blessings instead of focusing on what I don't have? Would I see all of the fingernails that need to be cut or the hair that needs to be brushed? (Well, I don't have a problem seeing those things.) Observing the little things that get overlooked because we don't stop to "smell the roses" will bring more blessings to us individually, as well as those around us. 

And who knows, maybe being more observant will help me recall what my kids are wearing today or tomorrow or next week!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Life After Chores?

As he scrubs the toilet each week, he imagines a day without chores;

when he can roam the neighborhood with his friends, with no cares in the world.

With each towel there is to fold, she thinks of the book she'd rather be reading; 

turning the pages of the romance mystery that is waiting for her on the table.

This is their lot in life...chores, chores, chores.

When will it end? Never! They'll be working and working forever!

I know my children think they are over worked and NOBODY else has to do any chores. They claim their friends don't have to do anything to help out in the home. Sorry! Mom can't do it alone, you live in this home too and need to help take care of it. Plus, you need to learn the skills necessary for when it's your turn to be in charge of a household!

This is one of my least favorite jobs...emptying the dishwasher. Oh, good, someone else gets to do it!

Chores. Are they a necessary evil or a blessing in disguise? I choose the latter. Assigning your children chores teaches time management, responsibility, a hard work ethic, encourages family unity, gives satisfaction for a job well done, teaches that privileges come with tasks completed, allows for learning and growing, and provides skills and knowledge that are invaluable.

She may not sweep perfectly but at least something's getting swept up!

 

Consider our new product, the Stick-to-it Chore Chart, for assisting your family in organizing and assigning the family responsibilities.  

This system has been utilized in our home for almost twelve years. I developed this product to use with my children because I could not find a solution on the market that gave the flexibility to assign specific and relevant chores to each member of the family. The STIC Chore Charts provide a solution to not only organize the family responsibilities in a fun manner, but track completion as well.  Chores may be rotated as frequently as fits your family's needs. I find that children REALLY learn how to do a job if they have that task for several weeks or months; however, our kids are always excited for "change the chores" day. Almost 100 colorful pieces are included that represent detailed jobs relating to most families. Blank pieces are included for customization to your household.  See how this system can transform your home into productivity! Visit our website, www.sticktoitcharts.com.

Yes, your children may day dream about life after chores, but some day, they'll thank you for "raising a stick-to-it kid".

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Wipe those Door Knobs!

Toddlers can work! I have to remind myself of this because some times I find myself thinking, "She's too little" or "That's too hard for her." We recently changed the chore assignments in our home. 

Sneak Peak: Stick-to-it Chore Chart System Coming Soon!

I realized in doing so, that our two year old didn't have her own chart. So, I quickly got to work and created her chart with her own jobs to do. She was soooo excited to have her own chart, just like big brothers and sisters. She hugged it. She looked at it. She practiced moving the pieces over. We hung it up on the bulletin board and explained what each piece meant. Quickly, she went to work. (Yes, I was kind of surprised)

One of the best jobs for a toddler is to wipe those door knobs! Give 'em a baby wipe and have them go to town on wiping the door knob on both sides of each door in the house. 

This kept her happily entertained for twenty minutes AND no more sticky door knobs...one of my husband's pet peeves! Teach your little ones that privileges come with responsibility and hard work. Start when they're young; it will make your job a lot easier when they're older!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

See what they can do!

Little ones can do great things, and it's so rewarding as a mother to see them do it.

My almost 3 year old wanted to play on the iPad. I asked her if she had her work finished. (You can't say done. "A cake is done. People are finished." - something I remember from my women's-libber English teacher in high school) She looked at me with glazed eyes as if saying..."Work? What work?" Time to get this little girl moving! I asked her to go make her bed. She fussed. "You need to go make your bed and then you can play on the iPad." She disappeared. I didn't know if she'd really do it or not, but she came back a few minutes later, declaring that her bed was made. 

Pretty good for a little one! I was so excited for her. However, the next day was even better. She didn't even ask me to play on the iPad...she made her bed first. I tiptoed in to get a picture but she caught me.

One other thought...

So, your child wants a privilege? Use it to get something out of them! Oh, you want to go to the pool? Are your chores completed?... You want dessert? Did you do your kitchen job? ...Want a story tonight? Get all ready for bed in five minutes!... You want to go shopping? Is that paper written yet?... You want to watch Diego? Better tidy your room.

Set some expectations, limits and boundaries and see what your little people will do. They'll surprise you!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Media Fast - Day 3

Observations for Day 3:

1. Creativity and Research - My daughter wanted to know what a crow and nightingale look like (they were referenced in a story she was reading). We printed out a picture of each and she drew them in her sketchbook.

2. My little guy was sick with a fever last night and went to sleep at 7 PM. My 12 year old son said, "Doesn't it feel lonely without him here?" I said, "Why don't you go check on him?" He quickly replied, "I already did...I was hoping he'd wake up and play with me." Thoughtfulness!


3. This one doesn't like reading very much. Wow - glad to see it happening...and such a big book, too!

4. Fun, pretend, play time. I love these super heroes!

5. Playing games in the evening together...patience for the little ones, too.

6. Superman doesn't usually play with toys very much. He got out the blocks and made a telescope.

7. By accident, I cheated. My brother posted a video on our www.MyFamily.com site and I clicked on it without thinking. I saw a bit of "The Dance of Joy" and then closed it. It takes practice and vigilance to train yourself to "shut down" or "power off". 


8. Progress on school work! My daughter accomplished more last night than she has in quite a while!


9. A cleaner house! Everyone has more time to finish their chores!!


Tips for success:
- Unplug the equipment. We don't have TV - just the ability to watch movies. We unplugged the TV AND disconnected the Roku and DVD player from it so the little people cannot turn anything on themselves. They haven't even asked to watch a movie in the last three days.
- Come up with an alternative. My daughter enjoys listening to CD's in her boom box. We found her some church/religious CD's that she can play instead and she's been plenty happy with them.
- Think about the things you want your children to spend time doing, but never seem to get there. Encourage working on some of those projects. 


More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Money Matters

The government's fiscal irresponsibility is a very frustrating thing to me. What message is this sending to our children? "Oh....we can spend whatever we want with no accountability." No! In "Real Life", you'll be in a fast financial nightmare which will negatively affect the rest of your life. My son is almost twelve, yet he understands the problem. He recently wrote a letter to our congressman as one of the requirements for the Citizenship in the Community merit badge...

Dear Congressman Matheson,

I have recently found out that the government is in a lot of debt to China. If we don’t get this resolved then we will be in big trouble if China calls in their loan. I am asking you to help the government to stop buying too many things so we can try to pay off our loan as fast as possible. I just want to know if we don’t pay our loan, what is going to happen to us as a country?

I am learning how to manage my own money. If I can’t spend more than I have, why can the government? Our leaders should be an example to the children of our country. The leaders we have aren’t doing a very good job at this.

The second thing I want to talk to you about is to get the government to reduce taxes. Many people are living on the street because they can’t pay their taxes. My family has a hard time paying our bills because we have too high of taxes. I am also asking you to help the government think about this problem and get it resolved. 

It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children about fiscal responsibility. One of the first steps is to make sure they have money to work with as they learn. But, do we just hand it over to them with "no strings attached"? I don't think so. I believe in an allowance based on hard work and responsibility. Yes, they can earn money by doing extra jobs around the house. Help them see that money comes from hard work - not from Mom's and Dad's wallet. Items are not purchased by swiping a plastic card through a machine and pressing a few buttons. 

A few weeks ago, my nine year old son asked if he could earn some extra money by doing "money jobs". Money jobs are additional tasks the children can do outside of the chores that are expected as part of a family. Sure - clean out the garage...

I love the roller blade look! Why not have fun while you're working??

I was so impressed with the job he did! Do a fabulous and thorough job and get a little tip for the extra efforts! When he got paid the next day, he got out his Stick-to-it Money Management System:

 

Earning is the first step. Don't forget the importance of giving, saving and then spending. Just like most things, start them young and see their consistency and enthusiasm shine as they grow in years and experience. Move over, Ben Bernanke. I have some children who understand fiscal responsibility.
 

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Change it up!

Change is good. Change provides growth, new experiences, opportunities to learn, different challenges, and a fresh outlook. It's good to encourage change in our homes...we teach our kids to change their underwear every day, to change the sheets on their bed, we change seating arrangements in the car and at the table for meal times, my girls change their room around every other month, and last night, we changed the chores.

The new chores are posted, here...

Changing the chores is always a most anticipated event. After two months of the same chore, day after day, they beg me to change the chores and swarm around the bulletin board when it's announced that chores have been changed. It reminds me of dying to see who made the basketball team or who got the lead part in the school play, not to mention who your new teacher is for the next year. I never thought my children would be so excited about their chores. Today my oldest son said, "I'm so excited about my new chores!" Wow! Like I said, change brings a fresh outlook - new opportunities and experiences. Who wouldn't be excited to quit sweeping the floor and wipe up the table and counters instead? 

He saw his new chore and went to work. Sadly, the excitement wears off.

 You may say, "Why don't you change them more often?" I really feel that they need a good amount of time to take ownership of their responsibility. They need the chance to properly learn how to clean the bathroom or arrange the dishes in the dishwasher in the most efficient manner. Plus, I need time to learn who does what...if I changed them every week, I could never keep track! It's also a task to change it up. It takes time and thought to make sure nobody has too difficult of a load or to ponder if cleaning out the garage is too much for my nine year old, for example.
Kind of off topic - I love my bulletin board. It has given our family years of assistance with organization and dependability. If you don't have one...get one!

Things I don't want to change: my favorite treat - See's Candies, my favorite food - mexican, my favorite night of the week - date night!!, my favorite people - my family!!

Are things feeling monotonous in your home? Change it up!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Pair them up for Productivity

In our home, we have a Mom's Choice and Dad's Choice chore. This allows for Mom and Dad to choose the most crucial need at the time...sometimes it's "watch the baby for 15 minutes" or "shovel the walkway" or "pickup 25 things in the family room". A few days ago, Dad assigned raking leaves to one of the boys. Well, there are certain chores that are just no fun to work on by yourself. Raking leaves is definitely one of those! Other Examples: cleaning the garage, shoveling snow, working in the yard, washing the car, etc. So, I quickly assigned another boy to rake leaves, as well. Working together encourages unity, working towards a common goal, learning to get along, cooperation, unselfishness and memory making. Pair them up; if one person starts lagging, the other one is there to encourage productivity and completion of the project.

I couldn't resist taking a few pictures...they had too much fun doing this Dad's Choice! Bonus: the little people were entertained as well!

Encourage working together...you may not see an immediate result, but the long-term benefits are endless!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!