Mommy Octopus

I hear a lot from other parents about children feeling entitled.  Entitled to treats, toys, and my least favorite, an allowance.  Around our house, we have never given an allowance.  First off, I have the memory of a rock and I would never remember to hand out an allowance.  Second, I don’t feel that my children should be paid for simply existing or for making their bed.  Making a bed and picking up after themselves should be a matter of respect, not something you get paid for doing.  Of course every family is different, but this is what we have chosen to do for our children.

We have 4 kids from age 3-10.  What we have come up with is a piece of paper on our fridge that I print each week that says “Jobs for Hire“.  I stick it up  fresh every Monday and the kids can put their name by it to let everyone know that they finished an item on the list.  Then I simply just go through the list, verify that the job was done, and pay the worker.

If you’re interested in making your own “Jobs for Hire” sheet for your family, CLICK HERE to download a copy of ours.  

Here are some examples from this week:

• Brush Dog: $1 per dog
• Wash sheets and remake beds $2 per bed
• Weed Gardens $2 per full bag of weeds
• Mop Kitchen $2
• Clean off porch $2
• Clean bathroom $3
• Clean and reorganize shed that holds outside toys $10

Am I overpaying on some of it?  Perhaps.  However keep in mind that this is the only chance they have to make some money and they have to get to them before a sibling does, it works for us.

And I have a clean house.  With freshly washed sheets.  And the kids are happy and proud of their hard work.  They have money in their piggie banks and I won’t have to deal with the “I wants” in the store.  They will have to check and see if they have the money for whatever their heart desires.  Most of the items on the list are already done today, the first day of our new job list!  Yes.  This works for us.

How do you handle your kids earning money?

Apple Cider Vinegar has so many benefits for us but it can be a little hard to get down.  Since we got limes and strawberries today in our Bountiful Basket, I decided to put them to work.  Here’s my newest favorite way to get in some apple cider vinegar.  I enjoy making my own good girl moonshine along with the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle!  Don’t worry, there is no alcohol in this drink but it does have a little bit of a bite!  Hope you enjoy!

In a blender, combine strawberries, lime, ginger, sweetener, and water.  Blend until well blended.  Pour over ice and enjoy!

You know, it’s not everyday you get the chance to educate Darth Vader….

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Back in April, I told y’all about how I took my 4 year old to get her ears pierced.  Suffice it to say that it didn’t happen.  You guys gave me excellent advice on how you went about going for or waiting for earrings.  We decided to wait.

Here we are a month later and she has been asking again.  Constantly.  Telling me she doesn’t care if it hurts, she wants earrings.  We decided to go for it today, honestly thinking she’d back out again when we went there.

My pretty girl proved me wrong!  She hopped up on the chair and took the earrings without as much as a flinch!  We could see the determination in her eyes of how badly she wanted earrings.  And so… let me show you one of our little princesses and her beautiful ears….

I definitely think the key is waiting until they are 100% absolutely positively sure and so are you.  It’s okay to back off when you get there.  Even if they change their mind after the first ear.  It’s OKAY.

I felt horrible for the girl that went after my daughter.  The mom was pressuring her and there was lots of screaming, crying, and bribery.  I even went over to try and talk to the mom but she would have nothing of it.  It broke my heart.  I’m so glad we waited and my daughter is so thrilled with her earrings.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy made May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day and that full calendar week National Police Week. Today, we honor those who have given their lives for the protection and safety of others. Today, we honor their families who were left behind.

Looking for a way to support your local officers?  Check out our instructions for Police Officer Appreciation Week Goodie Bags.