Friday, June 5, 2009

More counseling...

Today Grace and Lydia needed to clean their rooms. (Easy task...books, some clothes, blankets and the contents from their special boxes)

... 3 hours later...

Their room was even messier than when they started and they were both bawling. I did let them take a break to come eat lunch, but they had to go back to it when they were finished eating.

I told them that I was coming back with a garbage bag.

I followed through and came with a large kitchen bag...oh my...you should have heard the screams. Needless to say - WE cleaned the room in 5 minutes.

Now they have to do extra chores to be able to earn things from that garbage bag.


Lydia was so exhausted from all the crying that she is actually sleeping right now.

7 comments:

Heather said...

Angel - I remember my dad doing that except my sister and I were teenagers. We had to pay money to get each item back and the next morning for school my sister was without a hairdryer. I think I gave her my money to get it back or my dad was merciful. I had one of my shoes in that bag too which I had to buy back for the next school day. I think that lesson was imbedded on my mind permanently - so maybe this will do the trick for your girls. I never needed counseling either. : ) I seriously had to giggle as I pictured the tears flowing and you sticking to your guns. You are supermom!

Courtney said...

you made me feel better.
after too many warnings and reminders...i walked around the house this morning with a sam's club size diaper box (that i had just emptied of all the diapers!) and threw anything that was in my path away. you should have heard the screams!

Jennifer Pix said...

I love this idea -- I'm going to steal it. Boy, will my kids be shocked tomorrow!

The Conner Crew said...

Sounds so familiar.. I love it!

Michelle H. said...

We just did that last weekend in Alayna's room...she has 1 baby left and a couple toys that weren't taken away...she's still in the waiting mode of earning her stuff back. It works! We did it once in the bsmt and since then, when they need to clean down there they do it b/c they KNOW we will actually take things away that are left on the floor. Great job...mothering..it's a tough job, but someones gotta do it! :) See you Sunday at church!

Katie said...

Good for you! Maybe we should take that approach with Pearl. :-)

Tengesdal 4 said...

You are awesome! I just helped the kids clean their room...this sounds much better!