How I do it, Part 3

First I must eat my words. I have a kid home sick from school today. I was not saying we are sickness proof around here, I just don't believe in  paying for something that kills the good stuff too. Also our life is far from perfect. How I do it is just meant to answer questions. It is a glimpse into the systems I use to keep things going around here. We have days where it all falls apart around us. We just go with the flow those days. All of us have days where we simply muddle our way through. IE: My towels that were really not meant to be pink and red. Happy Valentines to me:)

The Kitchen:
   Again I have no chore chart so we just take turns and work together. No one leaves a meal unless their spot is cleared at the table. That means cup, fork, plate, spoon, napkin,etc... are in the trash or sink. This starts when they can get themselves up and down from the table. My one and two year old are in boosters and I have taught them to get down first and then grab their dishes. I clearly still help them as needed. I usually assign an older child to help them wipe their hands and face. I do it if I have all ready divied out assignments. My kids are just trained to not leave the kitchen until the meal is completely cleaned up or their part is done and they are excused. We tell them we are a team and as a family team we all have a part to play and we all help.Some one gets dish duty, someone gets to wipe counters, someone gets to wipe the table, someone gets to help put left overs away, someone gets to wipe the chairs at the table, and usually their is sweeping involved. If the trash is full then it gets taken out after the meal too. Again it is all about not letting it get out of hand. We don't leave until it's done. That is not to say there is never a hectic day where our usual schedule is shot, but we do our best and it works 95% of the time.

If my kids are doing the cooking or helping with a meal I teach them to clean as they go. If you get the baking soda out when you are done put it back, and that goes for every ingredient. Makes clean up way easier. If you open boxes they go in the trash when you are done needing  the instructions. Sweet K and C-Dog love to cook. C-Dog can handle an entire meal (simple) on his own. He usually makes Saturday dinner for him and the kids. Then Mr. M and I get take out and have a date /dinner night in once the kiddos are in bed.

How do I get them to eat? This is for you "Hit it..." I don't know if this will help but it is what I do to survive. If you don't like it you simply do with out, but you do get to stay and have family time with us. I have found that once or twice of that and being consistent really works. They will not starve themselves.Yes sometimes it is miserable and they pout and whine but we stick it out and they have realized after watching one big brother fight it over, and over, and over, that they will not prevail. They usually eat as much as they can. I am no Nazi here if you are sick or whatever I just ask you to do your best. If it is a simple meal I have not slaved over and you absolutely hate it and if you are old enough I may let you on occasion make a sandwich, but I do not do this often.I also do not enforce clearing your whole plate as long as it was not just one bite and trying to toss it and you must at least try a bite of something new. If I know my kids HATE something I will usually not put it on their plate, therefore avoiding the fight all together.

 Breakfast is a big meal at our house because Mr. M. is usually working during dinner time. We have big breakfast and have scripture study and family prayer. It is the main meal they can have with Daddy each day, and that is important to me! Mr. M is not gone every night but I found that this just works for us. His schedule is never the same week to week except his days off. I believe firmly in family meal time. I have also started at meal times a habit of asking eachother questions. Such as  "Did you have fun last night? or " What did you do in school today?" It is great too see my kids learn to take an interest in their siblings and be able to learn how to carry on a conversation. It also distracts them from fighting if I can time it right.

 How I cook for this crew could be an entire post but I will condense it. Breakfast is made by Mom and Dad and lunch is always sandwhices and easy fixes. Dinner is usually done in my crock pots and made in the AM at breakfast or lunch, depending on the meal. I have become quite the creative crock pot queen and we all love it!! No fuss just sit and serve. Tuesdays are usually pizza night.Tonight however we are having BBQ chicken sanwhices or BBQ chicken over baked potaotoes. All done in the crock pot. I will add a veggie and there you have it.
There is still more, installment 4 coming soon.