Kids Summer Jobs

I've been sharing some things which are helpful in my life -- hopefully others may benefit or have ideas for me! For the past couple of years I have used these cards for my little ones. I just wrote out the task, found clip art, printed them on white card stock, cut and then laminated. Each morning during the summer I deal out cards for each child. They have a little envelope thing that is magnetized to the fridge which they place completed cards in.

The best thing is you can totally make them specific to your needs. Some are easy and basic - ones they'd do anyway like make bed/brush teeth -- they get those cards every morning but they feel good when placing them in the completed envelope. We've got dust, clean up toys, (help) empty dishwasher, sweep kitchen, homework and reading. Not everyone might need one that consists of picking up wood chips from the lawn, but every two weeks or so, my girls get a card and they go out back with small pails and pick up the wood chips from the lawn along the play set area. OR a yoga card, but I purchased a children's yoga set and some summer mornings they get that one. We've got practice violin, practice dance... etc. I also put in things like write in journal, write a letter, stitch, draw a picture for someone (more to help remind me to have them do some different activities and mix things up).

My children get money put in accounts for them automatically each paycheck, we aren't really great at giving an allowance -- and I certainly don't pay them for each card completed. Work is part of being a family -- they don't need to be rewarded for doing basic tasks... but I do sometimes have extra jobs they can do for a little money - but that is the exception not the norm.

I only do this in the summer - so it's more of a novelty for the kids. This works for me and maybe it might help you too so I thought I'd share! I could send the document I have with all the cards I use -- if someone would like it -- but you'd probably like to customize cards yourselves if you want to do this with your children!

My Cleaning Schedule (4 Haylie)

I started this back in 2001... (click on picture to enlarge &; read schedule better)... each weekday I have a few items that I complete to maintain the household cleaning. Some weeks it doesn't work and I need to do a one day mass cleaning... sometimes I have to skip a day because of other things going on. When that happens I can usually re-arrange something that doesn't need cleaning as badly for something that needs more urgent attention. This has been helpful to know what needs to be done each morning so I don't have to write a list each day or plan cleaning each week.

I have my schedule on the side of my fridge, it could be taped inside a cupboard -- whatever! I also list out what I do in the room so I have specifics to follow -- which may seem stupid but at first it was helpful... now I know it all so well I don't really need it. On Friday's I rotate deeper cleaning jobs that need to be done once a month or less. Windows could go more than once a month so I might rotate cleaning the garage up, food storage, cleaning the kitchen catch all drawer... whatever might need to be done.

Now the kids can help with things too... McCall knows every Monday she and Elizabeth empty trash cans before our trash day on Tuesday... McCall also brings the big trash cans in on her way to school on Tuesday (We have an early route)... They also love to dust with the swifter duster things... On Wednesday's I remind the girls when they wake up not to make the bed and they strip the sheets for me and take them to the laundry room...

The only thing I might change is to throw in is some time for weeding, mowing. I'd probably be better at staying on top of my flower beds if I set aside sometime each week for weeding beds and planters... but our landscaping is pretty under control so it's usually not a big deal. (You've got to love PREEN!)

My long....rant maybe?

Last night I was up until 2am working in the office...I haven't recorded expenses or filed anything since January and I had started throwing stacks of bills and papers to be filed in a large paper shopping bag. (Just so my desk looked clean.) Needless to say it was time so instead of relaxing in bed I started to go through the whole mess about 9:30pm.

As Erik tied his shoes as he prepared to exercise in the next room he asked if he needed to be concerned -- as he watched the pile of papers unloaded from the bag! (I think he was imagining late fee's all over the place)... "No I just pay everything on line every couple weeks..." I think his eye's went even bigger! Poor guy as if he isn't stressed enough with the huge amount of work he is dealing with right now!

I don't know what my problem is keeping up with this stuff. Do any of you have the same problem? I used to be so good. I have my little schedule... M-Th I clean specific things each day, on Friday's I do the little odd jobs and used to spend time in the office... but something has happened and I just keep putting off my Friday work!

I guess driving to Orem M,T,W,F for swimming lessons for Elizabeth & Claire has taken a lot of time. We have spent a small fortune on lessons, but it's worth it because Elizabeth can swim and float and save herself and she's almost 4! Claire is doing great too and is getting more comfortable with her body in the water and floating. It may seem like a simple thing to go to swimming lessons but it's the drive time, being there, then coming home to bathe them...etc. etc. etc. Are you amazed at the time some of the seemingly small activities seem to take up in your life?

Sometimes I feel like all I do is run kids around: dance, violin, speech, swimming, activity days... and then all the misc. other responsibilities that fill in the rest of my time. I am so looking forward to summer... well... maybe July, as June is already pretty filled up with things... I am so tempted to take a break from dance. Can you imagine just having a couple days to lay around? Ahh... I can feel the warm sun and a book right now (no, no book, just resting in the sun...)

I know the kids need down time because play time is brain development time and also helps kids manage stress. The other day I noticed kids who had been out playing all afternoon, still out late into the evening... how do they mange it? With 30 minutes reading, 20 minutes on spelling, another 10 on math games/flashcards, practicing violin for 30-60min. plus time spent at various lessons, we seem to rarely have time for friends...

For the last few months we have had to do major catch up on Sundays for scripture reading. Maybe I need to get a chapter read to the girls when I have family prayer with the girls... hummm that just might work... Erik is USUALLY home in time to say goodnight to the girls and have family prayer... then they are off to sleep. I am usually so exhausted and we are pushing 8:30pm so it's a quick song and lights out. Poor Elizabeth and Claire don't seem to get bedtime stories like McCall did every night. I try to make it up during the day and stop and take time to read a book, play a game, every once in a while during Claire's nap Elizabeth will persuade me to watch Sound of Music with her... I always know she needs some Mom time when she picks that one because it's one I might actually sit through.

I know this is long -- it's more journaling and getting out what I need to say than anything interesting for readers, I also know that our life right now -- and for the past 6 months -- has been a little out of control and not quite normal, but I'd love to hear how others manage and keep up with everything... or maybe you don't?