Marbles in a Jar

There have been many days over the last few months that Alyse and I have not got along so well.  She has always been a very easy child, but we have been struggling lately.  I knew something had to change because I hate being the mom that just fusses at her all the time.  Plus, obviously all the fussing wasn't working.  So, I had to come up with a new plan.

The main things that we have struggled with (along with a ton of other kids out there I'm sure) is:

1) Obeying

2) She complains, whines, argues, and makes a ton of excuses

3) Doing what she knows she is suppose to do.  She likes to do what she wants to do.

I had pinned an idea on Pinterest about a complain jar where kids had a certain amount of money in a jar.  Every time they complained money came out of the jar.  Good idea, but that wasn't really what I was looking for.  First, we already have an "allowance" that Alyse gets.  She earns 5cents for different task/goals every week (putting away toys, dishes to the sink, putting clothes/shoes/bows where they belong, etc.)  The other thing is she really doesn't get too excited about her money.  She likes it but she is happy to let it sit in a jar.  I guess she doesn't really get it yet.  I knew taking money from her was not really going to hit home with her.

I still liked the idea and decided to tweak it a little and add to it.

The punishment that she likes the least is room time or going to bed early.  I decided to find some verses that would help teach her to fix the 3 struggles from above.

1) "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."

Ephesians 6:1

2) "Do everything without complaining or arguing"

Philippians 2:14

3) "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right"

Proverbs 20:11

I put them each on a jar and then bought some marbles.

Alyse and I had a long talk about her behavior and I told her that there was going to be no more fussing at her.  We read the verses together and I explained them to her.  We talked about how she needs to obey, without complaining or arguing, and needs to do the right thing.  I told her that if she does not do those things I was not going to fuss at her, instead I was going to tell her to put a marble in the pink, blue, or purple jar.  Each marble means that she will go to bed 5mins early.

This is a new thing for us, but so far it has been working well.

Even me asking her "Alyse, do you need to put a marble in the jar?" reminds her and she fixes her little attitude pretty fast.

Hopefully this will work, at least for a little while.

(Oh, and these are also going to be her next 3 memory verses.  She has heard them all her life but now I think is time they are in her ears, head, lips, and her heart.)