4 weeks and still going strong!

I am going to take this opportunity to pat my own back. Give myself a high-five. Toot my own horn, as it were, for I am a genius.

Yes, a genius I say.

It has been four weeks and the "Magical List of Household Duties" still holds it's death-grip over my children. It's like an evil spell has been cast, only it's not evil. It's wonderful.

Daily I am met with a chorus of "Can I help you with dinner?"

Or "Oh shoot, I need to practice the piano still today."

And "Come on sisters (insert applicable names here). We still haven't cleaned the play room yet."

My children have been replaced by angels. Angels that smile while doing the dishes. Why didn't I come up with this years ago?

I am waiting for the gauntlet to drop and for them to awaken one morning and realize that they are getting the shaft (At least in their mind's eye).

Our chart has several different duties listed (we print a new one each week). Each blank spot represents a turn doing that duty. They can choose what day they do what duty, as long as they do it. For instance: practicing the piano= 6 times weekly. Doing the dishes= 2 times weekly. The X's represent the days that they don't have to do that duty (reverse psychology in play).

Ex: "Oh, look! We only have to scoop dog poop once during the week instead of the six times that it could be! Hooray! We're smiling!"

It's fabulous. Truly.

Hannah found a loop-hole. She is off to Utah for a week with her cousin and Grandpa. She asked me right before she left if she would be punished for not doing everything on her list. I told her no, that I wanted the chart to be a positive thing and not bring negative feelings about her contribution to the family and that I would excuse her for the week.

What did she do next?

She went in and practiced the piano until the moment she walked out the door (not kidding).

It's a miracle. A summertime, mom's about to have a baby, it's too blazing hot outside to complain about any in-door activity, miracle.

And I'll take it, in any shape or form.