:x These boys are making me verrrry verrrry angry. and they better watch out - I told them if they didn't appreciate thier summer and 1. stop whining and 2. start doing the miniscule amounts of stuff I have asked them to do... next week, we will just start school again.:twisted: They were way nicer kids during school and now they have snide summer attitude. Anything you ask them to do..."But it is summer VACAAAAATIOOOON." So I threatened to stop doing laundry or driving them anywhere or cooking dinner or going grocery shopping because it is summer VACAAAAAATIOOOOON and I haven't gotten mine yet. ugh. So they have one week, and I am biting my tongue to not remind them to do thier chores and next week they are going to be SOOOOORRRRRRYYYYY. ha. (oh, and no allowance either...not until stuff is done.
That's GRAND! I told my family the other day, when my DH and DS were saying that they needed a day off, (which they do!) "You know, a mom never gets time off!" (Not that I mind, usually!) Just be careful what you "punish" with, you don't want to punish yourself in the process! Starting school next week with one of my children would be more punshing me then him. ("Punish" might not be the right word, but it was the only one I could think of at the moment. LOL!)
Hahaha yeah, when mom's vacation???? I hate when I have to punish my kids, but you have to, and sometimes the most effective punishment makes mom's life a little harder too, such is life LOL
If you do start school next week as a punishment, perhaps the school taught should be home ec. Your boys will plan a meal, go with you to shop for the meal, cook the meal, and clean up after the meal. Your boys will need to do this for three meals in the day. They will also clean the floors, do the laundry, scrub the toilet (that one is my favorite ), clean the windows, etc. I like this idea Perhaps I should do this with my son. Then summer will truly be a vacation for me too.
<sympathy> My kids are ALWAYS out of sorts when we don't do school, unless we're on vacation (like, a family vacation, not just time off school). Too much no-school time is like a recipe for discontentedness and bickering. We take our long break in Nov-Dec, and I spend the first couple weeks giving them stuff to do (like chores) just to break it up. After a while, they get the hang of it. But the transition's not fun.
We have the same kids? I didn't know that! He tells me the same thing - I'm on vacation. Meanwhile I work 14 hours a day...needless to say I've had a few screaming moments since HIS summer "vacation" began. On the bright side - I was talking about how much I am paying my writers for developing the literature guides to my mother when we were driving out to dinner, and he piped up and asked if he could earn the same money if HE wrote the guides for me too! I was like - uh yeah! :lol: Anytime I can get him to do something halfway productive I'm in - even if it involves a paycheck! He's going to start on Friday doing a lit guide for Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life - one of his favorite books last year.
This summer I have the kids in summer camps every other week this summer. This way I get my break too. We all hav enjoyed this a week but we ALL look forward to sleeping in next Monday.
Here's what cha' do.... Get a bucket and a shovel and also a pale of paint and paint brushes. When they complain send them to do "Doo-Doo Duty" or they can paint the trim on the house! The doo doo duty only works if you have a dog, if you don't, you can always send them to a neighbors' house to do the smelly chore. Worked with my kids and nieces and nephews. LOL
I love this thread!!! I think I'm gonna go with this! My kids have been at each other's throats since summer "vacation" began! Home Ec-here we come!
Summer vacation = "mom, there's nothing to do!!". And with that phrase comes the fighting, so we have chores designated specifically for those "I'm bored days". Pulling weeds, washing windows, scrubbing the kitchen floor.. That seems to do the trick. And also having a family outing every now and then,like to the pool seems to break up the monotony.. They are always happier when they have "something" to do. Wash the car, paint the fence, pick up doggy poop.. Oh, and don't forget weeding the garden and hanging out the sheets and blankets.. That's what works for us anyway
We are having the same problem here. I don't usually take the whole summer off because they can't handle that much time without a routine. Right now though, my 12 year old niece is here and that throws off my usual routine and I am paying for it. My oldest is nine, I have no idea what to do with a moody and easily bored pre-teen. I am open to suggestions I have always liked to use chores as a way to keep them busy, they quickly learn it is better to find something to do than to complain to mom about how bored they are!
My thoughts exactly. One very special homeschool mentor told me that scrubbing a toilet 'til it shines is a very effective attitude adjustment technique.
With all these ideas, we may get to where we want them to have an "attitude" so that they do the work and we get the time off!! :lol:
