We've got Alli Claire's 2 yr old pictures Saturday and I thought it would be a good idea to either have a family picture taken or at least pictures of the two girls together. I found Alli Claire's outfits and went looking for something for Graisi to wear. Well, well, well. Guess what I found? That's right crumpled up clean shirts in the bottom of her closet. This time, they weren't in the shoes (because she only has two pair). These were stuffed in the corner on top and beside a set of shelves I have in there to hold stuff like sheets, blankets and bulky clothes. So guess what I did... that's right, I took all of her hanging clothes away from her except for a dress for church and two t-shirts. I did leave her pants/shorts because we're not having problems with them... yet. At least she was honest when I asked her why they were crammed in there. Her reply was,
"Because I didn't want to hang them up." Well, if she won't take care of them after Daddy washed, dried, folded or laid them out to be hung up, then she won't have them. I explained that we would wash them every night and she would alternate them for school. I really don't think it phased her.
My bloggy readers... what in the world is it going to take to reach this child? Other than taking her stuff away, is there anything else we can do to teach appreciation? Or should I just give up because I'm fighting a losing battle? HELP! I'm up for any suggestions, ideas, prayers and/or medication (for me that is).
Revised update:
After much thought and deliberation I've decided upon another sort of "punishment/discipline".
I asked Graisi what one thing does she hate more than anything else and her reply was, "Clean". In 8 year old language, that means "I hate cleaning anything and everything." She gets her clothes back, but she must clean the house every afternoon before anything else including homework. My "cleaning" includes, but is not limited to, picking up the living room, dining room, her bathroom and her bedroom, cleaning off the table, emptying the trash in both bathrooms and getting the table set at night with place mats and napkins. Of course I will help with some, but she's going to do most of it. And the reason I say before anything else is because she will make her homework last 2 hours if need be. I advised she will either get really good at cleaning really fast, or she'll be up until midnight and I don't care if she's sleepy in the mornings for school.... and I mean it.
2 comments:
WOW WOW WOW WOW - Mom of the Year award just got taken away from you my dear!
I'm having a hard time with it too. We've started giving Tucker a list of chores to do. Since he's only 4, there's not much that he can do...but he has to keep his room clean, make his bed every morning and help take the trash out on Thursday nights. If he has done everything, he gets $4. Out of that $4...we make him save 1/3 of it...which immediately goes into his piggy bank. Anything left goes into his "wallet" and he uses that to get the things he wants. Maybe you could do something similar, but take away all of her clothes and make her "buy" them back...you could put the money she used to buy her clothes back into a savings account for her or just reuse the money for the next weeks allowance. Maybe if she realized how hard you and Martin work for the money it cost to buy her the clothes she wears, maybe she'll take better care of them.
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