Being a mom is honestly incredibly rewarding but it can also be very challenging at times. I try to glean information every chance I get. This is one of the reasons why I love being a part of the Ventura County Mom Collective.
Here are some of the Mom Tricks that I have learned over the years that have made a big difference in our home.
Caught Being Good
I learned about Gems in the Jar from a writer in another Collective. She wrote an inspiring post. I believe she called it something else but I took the general idea and ran with it!
If my kids are caught being good, they get to put a gem in the jar. They can’t tell me that they did something special or call attention to themselves. We have to catch them doing it. This can be as simple as being kind to someone or offering to help when they see a need.
When the jar is full of gems (this takes a lot of gems!), my kids choose a sit down family restaurant for our celebration dinner.
Earn Your Game Time
My ten year old son would play video games 24/7 if I let him. He loves it. I, however, want him to be a functioning member of society and develop other skills!
He can play up on one hour of video games per day if he earns it. He is extremely motivated by this! If he reads for one hour outside of school time, he can earn up to one hour of game time. For special occasions, he gets additional time but for the most part, we stick with the reading for gaming challenge.
He has become a voracious reader. Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Heroes of Olympus…My eight year old daughter is now reading chapter books because she wants in on the gaming action!
Not Going To Argue About It
I want to raise appreciative kids. I have a very hard time with entitlement.
One day after soccer, I proposed that we go to a fast casual lunch. My son and daughter started arguing about where we would go and I realized that we were going to eat at home that day. They couldn’t agree where to go and it was sucking all of the joy out of what was supposed to be a special treat.
My husband and I came up with the idea for each of us to write down restaurants that we all like and put them in a jar. Apparently, I really like jars! When we decide to eat out as a family, we can rotate pulling a restaurant name out of the jar.
It is decided. Nobody is allowed to complain. Nobody gets upset. The kids don’t argue. Mom and Dad are happy. The kids are grateful.
What Are Your Tricks?
Please let me know some of your Mom or Dad Tricks! Share them in the comments!
Loved it Stephanie! Great family building methods.
With you & Volker finding ways to focus on the tricks to find joy, your children are always pleasant to be around. This is another great article.