Category Archives: Behavior

parenting tips on tantrums, sleeping, behavior modification

CWKs #247365711: Loop Holes

Posted in Behavior, Convos With Kids by

Beach House TV Rule:
No TV while the sun is OUT.

This rule, new for this year, has surprisingly been working remarkably well, 3 days in…until this morning:

Bud: Uuuuuh, Mommy? Is it supposed to wain today?

Me: No, its supposed to be a beautiful day.

Lady J, looking at Bud as though theres a plot afoot: How ’bout tomorrow?

Me: There’s a chance of thunder storms tomorrow.

Bud, unabashedly smirking just like Mr. TheKing: Dat is weally gweat news. Fo weal, weally gweat…

Me: Why? 

Lady J, smiling her devilish grin: Because, your rule is that there’s no TV while the sun is OUT. If it rains, the sun won’t be OUT from behind the clouds so we can watch TV!

They high-five each other in celebratory solidarity, knowing they uncovered a massive loop hole in my rule…

Revised TV rule:
No TV while the sun is UP. This new rule comes complete with a science lesson on both the Earth’s orbit around the sun, cloudy weather, and a math lesson on TIME.

#wordsmatter

Personal Responsibility: DIY At the Beach

Posted in Behavior by

On bringing toys to the beach: You bring it down, you bring it back up. Mommy only brings the towel bag. End. Of. Discussion. (How’s that for a DIY lesson?)

  
The only way this works is if the rule is true. Lady J and Bud have each learned this the hard way. They haven’t left anything big behind, but a few shovels and buckets have been donated to other beach-goers. Lesson learned.

And while Bud and K-Mad are still learning what they can actually carry themselves, Lady J has it down to a science and thoughtfully chooses what beach activities she’ll do for the day. She’s also old enough to realize that all activities and toys are shared, as long as she brings something to share too.

Sidenote: I don’t do the whole blanket-chair-umbrella setup. When it’s just me and the kids, less is more.

  
What I actually carry in the towel bag:
-towels
-goggles
-sunscreen
-ziplock bag for beach tags
-ziplock bag for phone & ice cream money
-camelbak water bottles (though sometimes the kids carry their own)
-K-Mad’s puddle jumper hooked to strap
-Keys hooked to strap (carabiner clips are life savers for keys)

  

It should also be noted that my beach tote is a reusable grocery bag from BJs because we’re fancy like that.