Keep Them on Their Toes

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  Parents are insane.  I would put money on that fact.  Every parent tells their kid to do something expecting them to actually do it.  The kid almost never does it.  Take the statement, "Go clean your room."  What do they do? Clean their room?  No, they go in there, shut the door and read.  Or play a game.  Or jump off the top bunk.  They never actually clean their room. Parents need to get smarter about this.  We can't just keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  You have to change it up.  Keep the kids on their toes.

If they don't put away their clothes, start hiding them.  Put a shirt in their pillow case, put some shorts in their back pack, put some socks in the VCR (what are we the only people who still has one of those?).  Keep them in your room.  Eventually they will run out of clothes and they will put them away.

Won't clean off their dresser?  Go throw everything on the floor.  All their toys, papers, collectibles.  I bet they will clean it up then. I know mine did.

Won't eat their fruits and veggies?  Give them a plate of mixed veggies and tell them they can have their main course when they eat a serving.

Won't take the garbage out?  Gather up all the garbage in the house and deposit it in their room.

Won't do their school work?  Print out some school work for yourself, a book to read, a sheet of math to complete, anything and then race to see who gets it done first.

Won't make their bed?  Seran wrap it.

Won't brush their teeth?  Offer them some of that blue staining gum.

Eventually they will realize they are dealing with pros. Hey we were once kids, we should be experts at this.  Play their game and win.

Now, I must go short sheet someones bed.