my public school kid

teen summer schedule        

i've given my 13 year old (soon to be 8th grader) a schedule to keep up with his responsibilities this summer. i've actually given it to him in two parts. one is a general reminder list of his chores and our expectations; and the other is an actual timeline for each day. i have personally had problems being able to maintain a good check on his responsibilities in the past. i've had conversations with him and even made reminder lists that have seemed to make no lasting impact on him consistently keeping up with duties or routines. 

i am the parent! and the days of asking why his chores weren't done before he played his playstation or went to a friend's house are over!! i realized that even though it is his responsibility to follow through with his chores and to be honest about it, it is my responsibility to put in place a system that works to remind him and keep him accountable! i'm done with having these "he said, she said" conversations with a child! i am hoping it will keep us both on better emotional terms when it comes to the rules needing to be enforced. hopefully he will not try to wiggle his way out of something when he knows the rules are literally on his wall in black and white. and hopefully that will allow me to remain calm in discipline discussions!

i think discipline is a part of child training, and that children must be corrected with consequences that follow already clear instruction and prompt communication concerning the wrong and right choices. the consequence should take into account the nature of the violation and the adequacy of our instruction and communication with our children. i've tried verbal communication alone, and now i'm going to put that communication up for him to see daily! he will have no excuses and i will feel no guilt when consequences are necessary. AND on a positive note, we will both be able to reflect happily on his growth in maturity and good behavior! i look forward to being able to remember to praise him for his hard work when it is well deserved, and it may have otherwise gone unnoticed!

so i'm giving myself an "A" for effort, with strong hopes that having a summer schedule will bring the results i am expecting for my child and myself! i also plan to put a school version into place when the fall comes, if this does work out!

summer break

there is less than 1 whole week left before summer break begins. for me, that will mean having my 13 year old home all day with my (much) younger two kids. i am already struggling with anxiety about being able to maintain balance and order in our summer schedule!