Allowance

So last week marked the first week Rebekah has earned an allowance. I've read several places that one dollar per year of age is the average, but in talking to other Mom's they think that might be a little steep. Well, we had already told her $5 per week so I left it at that.

She has quite a chore list to earn that money. Every day we clean a room of the house, her chores vary depending on the room but include dusting, washing windows, shaking rugs, holding the dustpan for me, wiping counters, etc.

Now if she has a bad attitude about her chores (whining will not get you very far), or has to be told to do the same task more than 3 times, then she loses her dollar for the day. So far she has lost one dollar each week. But still $8 for two weeks when your 5 seems a fair deal to me.

More importantly, she hasn't spent the money! She saves it until she finds something she really wants. She recently bought this $28 lego set with her own money. Her face is all scrunched up like that because she's so excited (it came in the mail, God love Amazon.com).

I really hope we are teaching her the value of earning money, the value of a good attitude in the work place (and home!) and daily living skills all at the same time. Hard to put a price on that.

No Harvey, there will be no doggie allowance. Sorry.

Author Ken Nesbitt

We went to the children's program at the Ocean Shores Library today. Author, Ken Nesbitt was there to read some of his poetry and sing some silly songs. What a great kids speaker!

It was so much for for Rebekah to meet a "real author".

We bought one of his books (he had 4 there and they all looked like so much fun!), and he signed it for her.

What an amazing opportunity right here in Ocean Shores.

Random thoughts...

We don't have enough wall space. I have been wanting to hang up a world map, and also a USA map for Rebekah for months, and now I know why I haven't...where would I put them? I don't even see a place for ONE of them. Small house, lots of windows and doors. I also wanted to do a presidential time line thing...same problem.

I hate dieting. Oh really, because every one else loves it? I wish I could bake treats for my family and not want to eat them, but it's too hard (What a WHINER...I know!), so I just don't bake. It's not good for them anyway, but sometimes I feel bad.

I will try yoga tomorrow for the first time. When I was in college I took a yoga class that ended up being for people with physical problems...they kicked me out because I didn't have any physical problems. It's ironic because I sometimes wonder if they would have let me stay, and I developed a love of yoga, would I not have the physical problems I have now?

The dog stinks and I gave him a bath 2 days ago.

My pepper plants are on strike....they are not warm and they are pissed about it. I'm ready to yank them out of the ground and plant more radishes or peas or something not so testy about the gray chilly weather. Buck up guys!

Okay...that's enough. Going to bed.

I find myself not posting here as much (sorry Mom) because I post over on facebook so often. But the bad thing about that is that I won't be able to look back at this next year and say oh yes, we did this or that at this same time last year.
I need to be more diligent about writing here.

Every night before bed, Rebekah gets two stories. I don't remember when this started because I remember longing to read to her when she was about 2, and she would NOT listen to stories, she wanted to eat the book the end! But somewhere around 3 or 4 yrs old she started to love stories and it's become her ritual every night.

So we go through at least 14 books a week. I love you, library. Sometimes the stories really are sweet or funny, or the illustrations strike me just so and I mean to share it but I never do. I hope to change that. Starting tonight.

One of the stories we read tonight was The Lady and the Spider by Faith McNulty and illustrated by Bob Marstall.

It was just so sweet. Looking at life in the garden from the perspective of this little spider and never really thinking ... I don't know, it touched me. The way the woman was going to toss that little spider in the trash and then doesn't.

In a world full of Sponge Bob Square Pants and Pokemons I hope to find more books like this to share with Rebekah. I guess every parent feels like their child is special, but as much as Rebekah tries my patience she also inspires me. She makes me want to cultivate a better world, softer and more magical.

Maybe it's just my age, as I get older (not that I'm old...just that mid to late 30's thing) I start to see the bigger picture and realize it's made up of billions of little pictures. Thousands of little choices everyday. Words and actions that become mindless, when you really stop to observe yourself you realize you don't get those moments back, you may want to make them count.

Dress Rehearsal

I took some video and a couple of snap shots today at dress rehearsal. I think the lighting is better today than it will be tomorrow night. So just in case I don't get good footage tomorrow night, here is a sneek peek.

She looks so much older than 5 here, maybe it's just me. Sigh...no more baby. Not that it seems like she ever was one!

Another Tropical Traditions product give away!

This time it's over at Giveaways and More and it's for coconut flour! I've never tried it but doesn't that sound interesting? Man, I LOVE the taste of coconut :) And the fact that it's so good for you is just an extra bonus.

If I win this flour I'll be reviewing some recipes here and let you know how it turns out. If you win, let me know how it works for you!

Mmmm coconut oil giveaway!

Over at "My Kinda Rain", they are hosting a coconut oil giveaway. I've just recently started using coconut oil and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I'm also loving the "My Kinda Rain" blog, especially the frugal category! Head on over and get yourself an entry!
Click here!

Book Review

You're not the Boss of Me

Brat-Proofing your 4 to 12-year-old Child

by Betsy Brown Braun

While I'm not saying that Rebekah is a brat, I'll tell you this book was chuck full of useful info that I implemented right away!

I wasn't really prepared to like the book. I'm not sure why. But when I started flipping thru it I kept getting caught up in the pages and nodding my head in complete agreement. The tips and techniques and reasoning behind them make them a breeze to follow.

The book touches on a lot of subjects like empathy, independence, respect, self-reliance, gratitude, etc. There is even a chapter on how to use the book, which recommends NOT reading it all in one sitting. Huge relief to me because, hello? I have a 5 yr old! I don't read books in one sitting :)

I was planning to pass this book on to a friend once I had read it, but I find I can't really part with it now because I know I'll be coming back to it again and again. I've asked friends and relatives many times how you teach these subjects. No one ever has a good answer. This book does! I'm so happy to own it and now I can recommend it to other parents too.

AND I have to add, Rebekah has been really receptive to the methods I've tried from the book. They work! Good job, Betsy Brown Braun....you've got my vote!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of HarperCollins and received a copy of You’re Not the Boss of Me to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

http://www.momcentral.com/