Sometimes we parents need to change up our approach when kids keep forgetting things and nagging is going in one ear and out the other. Here is a story of one mom who used some of her L&L tricks and let her daughter figure out the best way to handle lunch bags and lunch money. Check it out! Can you see where she uses
EMPATHY? CHOICES? PROBLEM SOLVING?
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My daughter is 10 years old and in 5th grade. She ALWAYS needs to be reminded about everything. It happened one day that she forgot both of her lunchbags (she has two - one new one and one old one) at school. I told her yesterday that she will get a brown paper bag lunch for today since I don't have a lunchbox to put the lunch in. I empathetically mentioned that I hope the lunch won't be too warm by noon sitting in a bag. She came up with the great idea, that she could have hot lunch instead! I enthusiastically agreed with her that this would be a great solution. I promised that I would remind her once we got home to pack some of her money into her backpack so that she can pay for the lunch.
Her reaction was WHAT? I have to pay for it myself???
Well, (I said calmly) I don't really want to reward you with money for hot lunch if you forget your lunchboxes at school.
And she reacted with: "You have a point - I'll take the paper bag" :-)
Before attending your course, I'd have given her the money for lunch. So - THANK YOU!
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Do you remind too often? Nag to make sure things go "well"? Driving yourself crazy in the meantime? It's time to let your kids take ownership of things like lunch boxes, homework, music instruments, permission slips... What can you let them "own" today?
EMPATHY? CHOICES? PROBLEM SOLVING?
==========================
My daughter is 10 years old and in 5th grade. She ALWAYS needs to be reminded about everything. It happened one day that she forgot both of her lunchbags (she has two - one new one and one old one) at school. I told her yesterday that she will get a brown paper bag lunch for today since I don't have a lunchbox to put the lunch in. I empathetically mentioned that I hope the lunch won't be too warm by noon sitting in a bag. She came up with the great idea, that she could have hot lunch instead! I enthusiastically agreed with her that this would be a great solution. I promised that I would remind her once we got home to pack some of her money into her backpack so that she can pay for the lunch.
Her reaction was WHAT? I have to pay for it myself???
Well, (I said calmly) I don't really want to reward you with money for hot lunch if you forget your lunchboxes at school.
And she reacted with: "You have a point - I'll take the paper bag" :-)
Before attending your course, I'd have given her the money for lunch. So - THANK YOU!
==========================
Do you remind too often? Nag to make sure things go "well"? Driving yourself crazy in the meantime? It's time to let your kids take ownership of things like lunch boxes, homework, music instruments, permission slips... What can you let them "own" today?