Olivia is earning her stars everyday.
A few weeks ago we started a star system with Olivia. Around every 4-6 weeks, we visit our local dollar store, and toy sale and buy around 3-4 cool toys that are pretty cheap. So far they’ve include a soccer ball, a glow-in-the-dark slinky, some water balloons, a flashlight that looks like a bird, and many others. She has an opportunity each day to earn or lose around 7-8 stars for chores, obeying, not talking back, etc. When she earns enough stars she gets to buy something from the assortment of toys. The prizes range anywhere from 20 stars to 50 stars.
What I’ve learned from this is that Olivia does really well connecting the idea of doing the right thing and good things happening. We’ve done time out, taking things away, and other negative punishment things, but nothing seems to work nearly as good as positive reinforcement. Christy’s idea btw. I’m guessing teenagers don’t obey for stars, so maybe we’ll have to think this through again in a few years, but I hope we can teach her the value and enjoyment of helping others even when there are no stars or prizes.
It’s the little things
With everything that’s happened in the last few years, and even the last few months, money can become a major focus.
But what I’ve learned recently is that money seems to have a direct impact on my family life. When we have tons, we become really busy people. We spend a lot, we do a lot, we eat out a lot. None of those things are bad, but what sometimes can become bad is when you do things just to be busy. Spending can become part of what you actually are. I love the scene from Fight Club where Edward Norton is browsing the catalog. In a family friendly interpretation, basically what he buys is now defining him as a person. It’s something worth considering. Spending, doing things, can become a sort of drug.
Good luck wherever you are in your journey. God knows its been a weird couple years. Do what you can to get by and spend time with people around you and you’ll be alright.
No Soliciting
Nobody likes to be sold.
Webster’s dictionary says selling is “to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something.” Everybody please raise their hand if they would like to be persuaded or influenced to accept something? How about another word – consult. Webster says to consult is to “to ask the advice or opinion of <consult a doctor>.” This such a crucial difference. Selling involves persuading and influencing people to do what you want. Consulting is answering a request and giving an opinion.
Anytime that you buy or sell any type of property, make sure you get a consultant. Consultants are confident about the information and services they offer, and don’t need a sales pitch, a million reasons, or an uncomfortable situation created by a family/friend relationship. Consulting allows you to gain great advice, without any time-line, or sales pressure to make a decision.
-Aaron
