| Hey, it's time to clean up our homes and yards again! Start with one room or area at a time. Finish that section. Plan to do one or two a day at the most, but don't overload yourself to the point where you can't perform your everyday duties. Involve the children! Make games, give prizes for the most jobs done at cleanup. (Make sure that EVERY effort is rewarded! Children get hurt feelings easily, and can decide that helping isn't worth it, if you favor one's effort over another.) Teach them to do more for themselves! This is a joyous thing to most kids, to be given more responsibility. Praise, praise and praise them some more, for all work done well, and for every effort - even if they need more practice. Mom, you may need a little help with the overall picture. Sometimes it's too enormous a job to be able to get started on effectively. Learn to step back and play general. Make lists of what you want done as if you were ordering soldiers, then pretend to be the soldier and follow instructions. One job at a time, as if you were actually obeying orders and answering to a boss. You are the boss, of course, but no one said you can't play games too! Childhood doesn't hold a monopoly on having a good time. And having a good time doesn't require parties, alcohol or any special occasion. |
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