I have had one hell of a week with the kids. As you can read from my previous post my house has been out of control. Trying to blog throughout the week has been impossible. I am finding that a lot of the problem with my kids behavior lies with my husband and I. Its almost as though we have forgot how to be parents and are just trying to exist in this house with our kids. We try the basic time out and grounding but our follow through sucks! We live under a cloud of anger all the time. The yelling and fighting has worn us both down.
So I got online and starting searching for a plan, you could call it my only New Years Resolution. I need to find a way to gain some control and become a positive parent again. There is so much information out there. Parenting courses, programs to buy and forums that offer great resources. But I am one of those people that need simple and direct action immediately. So after much frustration with all the piles of information I decided to start searching for some at home activities to do with the kids instead. I stumbles upon this great website www.creativekidsathome.com that gave all kinds of activities for the kids to do, but to my delight I also found a link to program to help with the children’s behavior. It’s called the Better Behavior Wheel and here is a summary of what it is about.

“The Better Behavior Wheel is an upbeat fun tool for behavior management. Families who use the Wheel report dramatic changes in their households. Homework gets done, clothes get picked up and arguing stops. By the mere physical presence of the Wheel being displayed, behavior can be modified and discipline maintained. Funny how just having it on the wall has helped with the bickering already,” states Mrs. Rachele Gleason.”

“You can effectively modify your children’s behavior by using the Wheel from http://www.BetterBehaviorWheel.com. And whats exciting is no more straining your mind to think of appropriate punishments or having things go on till you blow up. The children, in a family meeting, agree upon the consequences of not doing as they should in 7 different areas that come with the Wheel such as Excessive Arguing”, Talking Back”, and Not Putting Things Away”. Blanks are included so you can add your own areas and consequences.”

“Guess what? You, the parent, are no longer the bad guy and can even root for your child to get one of the lesser punishments. Maybe there can even be a free spin” if you decide to include one on the wheel. Your children answer to the wheel loaded with punishments they agreed to.”

“Lest you think this is all about punishment, the wheel also comes with the Wheel of Just Desserts for positive reinforcements. Perhaps a week of no trips to the Better Behavior Wheel can call for a spin on the Wheel of Just Desserts. Imagine the effect of the possibility of winning Your Favorite Meal” or A Trip to the Movies” or One Game Rental”. Whatever your family decides upon as an appropriate goodie.”

“Try the Better Behavior Wheel configured to meet the unique needs of your family. Hang the Wheel on your kitchen wall and watch the atmosphere in your home change overnight. Personalization of the wheel is available. You might want one for each child so the consequences are fully individualized.”

For more information, please go to http://www.BetterBehaviorWheel.com

So I went the the author site and read more about the program and of course the cost. To my surprise it only cost $14.95 for the instant download version.  Julie Butler also created the program to be purchase as a kit with a wheel and interchangeable cards that can hang right on the wall. I found the average cost for this kit to be about $29.95 depending on the site selling it. I plan to stick with the download version as my laptop is always accessible from any room. If anyone has used the program leave me comment and tell me what you think. I’m also open to any other ideas or tips for positive parenting.
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Holidays come and go so fast. We just returned from spending the holidays with with family out of town and now I’m like WOW I feel exhausted. I still need to take down all the Christmas decorations. I have family here in town that I still need to deliver gifts to and the kids, well that’s simple THEY ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!! I love the first week of winter break with the kids because we are so busy and excited getting ready to the big night when Santa comes. But the second week of winter break is a killer. Even with all the new toys, gadgets and gizmo’s my kids find irritating me much more entertaining. My teenager is bored and would like money and mom’s taxi service to run her and some friends around. My seven year old refuses to share any of his new toys but is more than willing to play with the younger kids toys at free will, without asking. My youngest hasn’t touch any of her new toys since we got home, she is more interested in driving mom totally nuts. And Jackson contrary to most days, is the easiest right now. He is entertaining himself with the wide varieties of new movies Santa brought.

I watch the clock tick by waiting for it to hit 4:30 when daddy gets home. I feel guilty as I know he has worked all day but I can’t wait the minute when I can hand the kids off to him. I’m looking for just an hour of peace and quite without interruption. It’s crazy because I know that if I just take a deep breathe, relax a little and focus on the kids they would calm down. I hate days like this.  I need to do so much yet I’m just running in circles not accomplishing much of anything. My only hope at this point is that tomorrow will be better. Whoever said motherhood was easy was lying!

Cheap Family Meals has posted some great last minute gift ideas that are inexpensive and simple to give. I know the Christmas crunch has hit me, I am running around like a chicken trying to create last minute gifts for neighbors, my kids friends and those long lost family members we only get to see once a year.

Cheap Last Minute Gift Ideas | Cheap Family Meals

• Big Hershey’s Candy Bar – Hershey bars only cost $1 and they have many varieties. Wrap some yarn or ribbon around the candy bar, tie in a bow and attach a gift tag. (we gave these to teachers and my teenagers close friends at school)

• Candy Gift Sack – Put 1 Candy Cane and 4 or 5 pieces of candy in a cello bag or sandwich bag add some ribbon or yarn and a gift tag. (I actually couldn’t find any Christmas cello bags but I found these sandwich and craft baggies in the Ziploc section at Wal-Mart. The baggies are made by Hefty and cost me $1.25 for 150 sacks and ties.) (we gave these as a gift to each student in my kids classrooms)

• Hot Cocoa Gift Sack – Put 1 envelope Hot Cocoa, 1 candy cane and 2-3 hot cocoa Hershey Kisses in a cello bag or sandwich bag add some ribbon or yarn and a gift tag. (we gave these to the bus drivers and classroom aides)

• Popcorn Gift Sack – Fill a cello bag or sandwich bag with microwave popcorn add some ribbon or yarn and a gift tag. (we give these out to neighbors and the neighborhood friends my kids play with)

• Cookie Plate – I’m out of time and cannot bake cookies so I purchased a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough for $2.50, baked them and place 5 or 6 cookies on a paper plate, covered it with some Christmas colored Cling wrap and added a Christmas bow to the top. (we give these out to family and friends that stop by)

Hope this helps you all as you search for those last minute gift giving ideas. And if your looking for last minute meal ideas for your Holiday Party, Cheap Family Meals can help with that as well.

Good Luck and God Bless. Happy Holidays from MommyMachelle!!
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