Photo by Lara604
Written by Steady Mom contributor Kat of Inspired to Action
There are a few aspects of motherhood that I do not enjoy. One of those is the amount of reminding we need to do. It can so easily become nagging.
And nagging is annoying. It's annoying for me. It's annoying for my kids.
So I've decided to automate that part of motherhood.
Now you might be thinking, "Wow! Kat! That's like the holy grail of parenting."
To which I reply,"Why...yes, yes it is."
But, really, it's nothing new. Just new to me and hopefully helpful to you.
Here's how I've done it.
We all have routines. Some are rigid, while others are very flexible, but every family has a basic list of things they do before leaving the house, going to bed or eating dinner.
These are transition times and often high frustration points.
So for my children, I created a routine chart. I listed all the things they need to do before we leave for school, eat dinner and go to bed.
And? Voila!
Instead of constantly reminding them or answering the "What do I do now?" question for the gazillionth time, I simply point them to the chart.
They check things off as they go and we can leave for school, eat dinner or go to bed once everything is done.
FYI - I've allowed my kids to be tardy, eat dinner late or miss the bedtime story if their items weren't done in a timely manner.
My older children (8 & 6) do very well with this method. My three-year-old, obviously, still needs a lot of guidance and instruction along the way.
2. Signs
For other items that aren't part of a routine, I sometimes will put up a sign like this one to inspire them to pick up after themselves.
It works miracles, especially when they're saving up for something special.
Try It. You'll Like It.
So if you find you are repeating things over and over, consider automating that annoying task by making a sign and putting it in a prominent place. Let your children clearly know what will or will not happen if they do not obey the signs.
And watch the magic happen.
*What task/event requires the most reminding at your house?*
Kat blogs at Inspired to Action, a site helping moms develop the skills they need to manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat and her husband Jimmy live in Texas and have 3 children ages 7, 5 and 3. Kat loves music, running, technology, Jesus and Tex-Mex food. Not necessarily in that order.
