Trying Again

Being a mom is a hard job.  Sometimes I feel like I fail.  Sometimes I feel like I'm a rather good mom.  Sometimes I just want to lock myself in my room for 10 minutes to get a break from it all. Sometimes I want to take a break from the cleaning/laundry/everything else and just play with the kids.  It's hard to find a balance. 

The last few months I have felt like the kids are a bit out of control.  I have tried different reward/consequence systems for behavior in the past and they seem to work for a while and then fade out.  I have combined a few of the things I have done in the past for my latest attempt at a peaceful home (is that even possible with 4 boys???).  I have a chart they can move up or down on depending on their behavior.  If they make it to the top they get a daddy dollar (which they can buy rewards with) and if they go to the bottom they have to pick a consequence from the consequence jar (my favorite being "rub mom's feet"-most of them are cleaning projects).  

I always have a hard time with rewards because I feel like kids are part of the family and they need to contribute without getting a reward.  It's something they should do because they are part of the family.  However, it's nice to be rewarded.  The rewards cost little to no money.  Most of them are one-on-one time with mom or dad, which we need to do more of anyway.  

We have a job chart that has been working GREAT for a few months now.  It's simple, not very cute (definitely not pinterest worthy!!!), but it WORKS and that's what matters.  I remember my mom had a similar one and it seemed to work.  We just rotate it every day.  I still have to help with some of the dish-duties, but they do pretty good.  I could probably require more chores from them, but I feel like for now this is good enough. 

Wish me luck!