Recently, two of my GrandBlessings, almost 8 & 10 years old, stayed with me for a week for the first time (they are a relatively new addition to our family 🥰). Because having lived alone for many years now, my life of quiet, peace, and silence, rarely with tv or even music on, I was super excited to have them, but a bit iffy about the constant chatter, movement, interruptions, etc. What could we do to have an enjoyable time and still keep my sanity???
Here are a few things that made a difference:
- We talked about Expectations and Choices, in front of their Mom.
- Each had their own color of cup, plate, and bowl. (Could fill their own water glass, with a specific place to keep it)
- Each got to have a ‘Creativity Corner’. As they got to have their own quiet space, filling it with a pillow to sit on, a lamp, water, notepad or journal, pens/pencils/colors, books, solid surface (table or tray), etc.
- We talked about Expectations and Choices, in front of their Mom.
- Each had their own color of cup, plate, and bowl. (Could fill their own water glass, with a specific place to keep it)
- Each got to have a ‘Creativity Corner’. As they got to have their own quiet space, filling it with a pillow to sit on, a lamp, water, notepad or journal, pens/pencils/colors, books, solid surface (table or tray), etc.
- We talked about Expectations and Choices, in front of their Mom.
- Each had their own color of cup, plate, and bowl. (Could fill their own water glass, with a specific place to keep it)
- Each got to have a ‘Creativity Corner’. As they got to have their own quiet space, filling it with a pillow to sit on, a lamp, water, notepad or journal, pens/pencils/colors, books, solid surface (table or tray), etc.
- We talked about Expectations and Choices, in front of their Mom.
- Each had their own color of cup, plate, and bowl. (Could fill their own water glass, with a specific place to keep it)
- Each got to have a ‘Creativity Corner’. As they got to have their own quiet space, filling it with a pillow to sit on, a lamp, water, notepad or journal, pens/pencils/colors, books, solid surface (table or tray), etc.
- We talked about Expectations and Choices, in front of their Mom.
- Each had their own color of cup, plate, and bowl. (Could fill their own water glass, with a specific place to keep it)
- Each got to have a ‘Creativity Corner’. As they got to have their own quiet space, filling it with a pillow to sit on, a lamp, water, notepad or journal, pens/pencils/colors, books, solid surface (table or tray), etc.
- We talked about Expectations and Choices, in front of their Mom.
- Each had their own color of cup, plate, and bowl. (Could fill their own water glass, with a specific place to keep it)
- Each got to have a ‘Creativity Corner’. As they got to have their own quiet space, filling it with a pillow to sit on, a lamp, water, notepad or journal, pens/pencils/colors, books, solid surface (table or tray), etc.

Remove 4 quarters for:
- Lying
- Fighting
- After a discussion about how it FEELS when lying, or manipulating their sibling causing tears, and how it FEELS when CHOOSING to be kind and helpful, I had them create a KIND/Mean card. They wrote the word KIND on one side of a blank note card and Mean on the other side, and decorated them accordingly.
- When they catch themselves CHOOSING to be KIND, they give themselves a hashmark on the KIND side. They CHOOSE to be Mean, and catch themselves, apologize and CHOOSE to switch to KINDNESS, they give themselves a hashmark on the KIND side and when they CHOOSE to be Mean, they turn their card to the Mean side with a hashmark.
- This is primarily for THEIR own conscience, not to gain adult approval.
- This is about CHOOSING. About SELF-Discipline. About the Feelings, more than the actions.
- At bedtime, they loved meditations/affirmations by Kids:
https://youtu.be/90tJl8Ui3Uc
& https://youtu.be/Bf0qDf-m9jw
Next time, we will learn about the chatterbox in our heads that never shuts up, and how to begin taming it….. without the verbal running commentary. I think I will have a showdown with them, speaking out loud every thought, so we can laugh at how ridiculous it is. May this Bless YOUR Family!