Comments on: 10 Tips to a Smooth Sailing Evening http://www.blisstree.com/articles/10-tips-to-a-smooth-sailing-evening-207/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:54:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/10-tips-to-a-smooth-sailing-evening-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94883 Julie Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:48:37 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/10-tips-to-a-smooth-sailing-evening#comment-94883 I have to admit that around our house we can be bad at sticking to a plan too. We have tried sticker charts and keeping track of allowance on a board, etc... and we always forget. Now that our kids are getting older, THEY remind us about allowance and the WE remind them about their chores. As far as getting in time on bed, our kids fight that too. We are very honest with our kids and don't really sugar coat most things. We tell them that in order for their parents to stay sane, mom and dad need time alone together. Bottom line. And they need their rest. We also tell them that we want to leave things for them to look forward to when their older, hence, staying up as late as they want. Why ruin the excitement for them now? :) I have to admit that around our house we can be bad at sticking to a plan too. We have tried sticker charts and keeping track of allowance on a board, etc… and we always forget. Now that our kids are getting older, THEY remind us about allowance and the WE remind them about their chores.

As far as getting in time on bed, our kids fight that too. We are very honest with our kids and don’t really sugar coat most things. We tell them that in order for their parents to stay sane, mom and dad need time alone together. Bottom line. And they need their rest. We also tell them that we want to leave things for them to look forward to when their older, hence, staying up as late as they want. Why ruin the excitement for them now? :)

]]> By: Jon King http://www.blisstree.com/articles/10-tips-to-a-smooth-sailing-evening-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94896 Jon King Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:24:54 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/10-tips-to-a-smooth-sailing-evening#comment-94896 Greetings ! These are great tips, surprisingly we do most of these which is big relief because every time we announce a "plan" or ritual the kids listen but I suspect they have learned we (my wife and I) do not adhere to it for too long... which brings me to another idea: once you try something new I wonder if there is value in announcing that "we are going to try this for 2 weeks and then discuss it" or whatever? Another thing we have done that does work is to be upfront and just tell them that we need to go to bed on time because the end of the day is the only time we have to "catch up with each other" and do our own things. Thoughts? Greetings ! These are great tips, surprisingly we do most of these which is big relief because every time we announce a “plan” or ritual the kids listen but I suspect they have learned we (my wife and I) do not adhere to it for too long… which brings me to another idea: once you try something new I wonder if there is value in announcing that “we are going to try this for 2 weeks and then discuss it” or whatever? Another thing we have done that does work is to be upfront and just tell them that we need to go to bed on time because the end of the day is the only time we have to “catch up with each other” and do our own things.

Thoughts?

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