Allowance

So we have decided to start giving our son an 'allowance' on a trial basis.  We seem to have gotten to that point where he wants 'stuff' all the time.  Now, my husband and I have really tried hard not to get into the habit of buying him things every time we go somewhere.  We have been pretty consistent with it, but lately, our 4 year old just wants things.  Even when he does get something new, he immediately begins to covet the next thing he wants. Like, hello, Live in the Now!  After having a discussion with a friend yesterday at work, I am not totally convinced that I want to attach these things to monetary value, but I do want to him to begin to realize that we need to save our money up for the things we want to buy.  And we don't just go out and buy new stuff just for fun.  Maybe I should practice what I preach.  Now, you may be wondering why these are the 'chores' we I chose.  Shouldn't he be doing these things already? Aren't these expected behaviors?  Well, we have to start somewhere, peeps.  This is going to be a work in progress, a fluid document.  So let's start with things we want him to be doing and reward him for them.  Then, replace these with more 'chorey' types of things and these items will become part of the daily routine.  Also, I got this supercute Chore Chart  here.  We are going to use a Dot Art Painter (aka bingo blotter) to mark off when he does the chore.  Super fun for him!  

Today also kicks off our Spring Break, woohoo! So now is a great time to start cracking down on his housework and hoarding.  TTFN!

**Piggybacking on Spring Break, I am not sure if I will have daily postings due to our packed schedule, but I will do my best!**

Bienvenue au printemps!

Well not quite yet, but only a few more days!  There is nothing more I love than getting outside with my family, opening the windows to let the fresh air in, and enjoying a crisp glass of wine on the patio on a warm evening.   I spent a lot of time this weekend getting my 'garden' ready for the new green sprouts to make their way into the world.  This is something you may not know about me, but I tend to my plants almost constantly starting this time of year.  I love to stand outside in the warm evening and water them, pretending like I actually know what I am doing.  I also encourage my son to help me in the garden so he can appreciate the life cycle of plants and caring for personal belongings (responsibility, see Heigh Ho Heigh Ho).

When my grandmother moved from her home in Havertown, PA to an apartment in Wayne, she gave my parents some of her irises.  Some were then given to me when we bought our house and I now have numerous plants that bloom, gorgeous purple flowers every spring.   So it means a lot to me to take care of them.  When we move from our current home, I plan to take a few with me and keep the traditional alive.  I also love my hydrangea plants that were given to me on mother's day two years on a a row.  They will be going with me as well!

At every change of the season I like to look around for home decor to match.  I mean I don't go crazy and buy matching throw pillows and hand towels, however I do pick up little pieces, like the one picture above, to place sparingly around the house.  This is one I just found at my local Home Goods, which I check our regularly for just about anything to decorate my house.  I love this piece because it is a bit primitive being that is is a sampler (a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework), but the robin egg blue frame brightens up the traditional brown or black.  I also have a hard time finding Spring decor that is not 'Eastery,' and there are no bunnies or easter eggs in sight on this one!  The ribbon flowers and pearl and button centers are so perfect; a big warm welcome to Spring...............

Heigh Ho Heigh Ho

It's off to work THEY go. BTW, who knew it was 'heigh' and not 'hi'?  Weekends are great times to catch up on chores, especially when evenings are the only time you have to do them, and that is not an option b/c you are dead tired and really need to be spending time with your children and/or significant other.  Also, let's be real, chores suck and I have waited 4 years to delegate.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I can ask my son to go and feed the cat nowadays.  As I am learning, my son loves to "help" me with everything!  I welcome the help for some things and definitely not others.  Here is a list of chores I find appropriate for a 4 year old:
1.  Feeding animals (if you have a dog is not protective over his/her food)
2.  Putting dirty clothes in the hamper (that word is really old-fashioned don't you think?)
3.  Sorting laundry
4.  Dustbusting
5.  'Washing' dishes in the sink (of course you have to re-wash but they think its great fun)
6.  Cleaning up toys
7.  Neighborhood litter clean up (Mine has this 'Grabber' to use so he does not have to get his hands dirty)
8.  Putting items in the recycling bin
9.  Putting sippy cups in the refrigerator
10. Help put groceries away

There are many things I DO NOT  want help with(i.e. anything that involves open liquid containers or permanent ink), but I am trying to keep this positive, so use your own judgement in order to preserve your sanity.