In an effort to establish some better, more respectful habits around here, we created a Yes Ma'am/Yes Sir chart to help the kids kick the "Yep", or "MmmHmm" response to our instructions that we've all gotten a little too used to. We spent a couple of days letting them put a check mark next to their name whenever they remembered to respond more respectfully with the promise of redeeming those checks with coinage at the end of the week. The big kids caught on quickly and their rows were filled up in a day (they may or may not have been cheeky enough to slip in a few extra "Yes, Ma'am's" here and there), but the practice was a little harder for the younger boys to remember and Jack's row, especially, was lagging a good bit behind the others.
This must have been bothering him while he was lying in bed, because around 10pm when we were silly enough to believe that everyone was sleeping, Jimmy, MawMaw, PawPaw and I heard some activity in the kitchen. We turned from our couch in the family room to find Jack standing at the chart, marker in hand (and all over his hands), filling in the rest of his line with the best "checkers" he could make. Who has time to be making habits when you could be making mischief?
This must have been bothering him while he was lying in bed, because around 10pm when we were silly enough to believe that everyone was sleeping, Jimmy, MawMaw, PawPaw and I heard some activity in the kitchen. We turned from our couch in the family room to find Jack standing at the chart, marker in hand (and all over his hands), filling in the rest of his line with the best "checkers" he could make. Who has time to be making habits when you could be making mischief?