Rewards and Choices

We start each morning with half an hour reading time.  I shouldn't say every morning, that's a bit of an exaggeration.  But at least 3 or 4 mornings each week.  The current read is still Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.  I mentioned how London feels about that book in a previous post.  I read about twenty minutes this morning and then informed the boys that I had a challenge for them.  Whoever could get their room and zone (best idea ever for picking up the house) cleaned up first would get to choose the reward for the whole family.  Three choices: 30 more minutes of reading, choosing a game to play as a family, or 10 extra minutes of screen time.  And as soon as I said screen time I wanted to retract. Why would I offer them more screen time?  Anyway, we turned on some music, started cleaning, and kept going for maybe 45 minutes.  Surprising, yes, but that wasn't the best part.  When we finally stopped cleaning, I told them they'd both cooperated so well they could both pick a reward.  My mama-heart leapt within me as they both called out in unison, "thirty minutes of reading."  So we read for an hour.  And I was worried about screen time...

How I Get My Kids Into a Book

London says, “I hate books that are so addicting you have to keep reading them.”  He references the one I just put down.  “Like that one.”  This morning, I started reading Wonder  by R.J. Palacio, out loud.  London was not interested.  I read it myself a couple weeks ago for book club and thought the whole time how good it would be for my boys.  But then I made the mistake of telling London what it was about-- a boy with facial deformities.  Not something he feels comfortable thinking about.  He wouldn't pick it up on his own, so I’m reading aloud.   London admitted there were some funny parts in it, but that wasn't enough to keep him interested.  Until I read a few more chapters at lunch.   That’s when he made the comment above.   And when I put it down, he said, “No keep reading.”  I knew it would be just a matter of time and I’d have them hooked.   Now I just have to keep myself composed as I read; something in that story just tugs at my mama heartstrings.  

Van (July 1, 2012)

We bought a new van last night.  Well, actually it's a used van.  But new to us.  It's not our dream vehicle.  I've never been a van fan, but it's practical, and it fits our needs.  As we were driving home, the excitement was almost too much to contain.  I was enjoying all the amenities we didn't have in our last vehicle-a 1989 Chevy Suburban.  I can roll down my windows.  I can turn on the A/C.  I can listen to the radio.  I can use the inside lights.  And since it can go faster than 50 miles an hour, I started thinking about road trips.  Going on more field trips.  Freedom!  But the best part- we paid cash.  That's what made it so satisfying.  We've sacrificed for months to save up.  We've gotten by with an embarrassment of a vehicle for three years in order to stay away from debt.  So even though we are starting out with 160,000 miles, I'm feeling grateful.