Homework Success!

Tonight was a wonderful evening. The Pioneers group at church (like scouts, but with a much less intense schedule) was holding a Harvest Ball (i.e. - Halloween party without the official name). I told the kids that they could not attend if their homework was not finished first. Not a problem for DS, but generally a huge challenge for DD. The biggest issue is that while she is given about an hour/day for in class study hall, she goofs off rather than complete her work. We figured she would likely not be "party-eligible" tonight.

Surprise! With the motivation of the party, everything was done by the time I came home. A little review of the math, a little discussion and double checking of the science homework (mitosis vs. meiosis - heck, I get those mixed up, too), and she was done and ready for the party by 6! I pointed out to her how nice it was to have so much free time in the evening, and she said, "Well, I knew I wanted to go to the party." Now I wish we could have a party every day!

When they came home, we even had time to read a chapter in "The Silver Chair"(which I started reading aloud to the kids but haven't been able to do lately). DD says she's going to try to think of her Webkinz Time as a "party" each night, to motivate herself. Who knows if it will last, but it made for a much more pleasant time tonight.

Contrast this with the hissy fit I got last night, complete with "I want to kill myself," and "You don't care about me," screamed at top volume, when she was consequenced for not bringing all of her homework home. I actually managed to stay very calm (yay me!) and after she eventually calmed down, I explained to her that once again, screaming at me did not get her what she wanted and was not a good strategy. They way she gets upset, you'd think we'd proposed chopping off a body part, rather than just take away bedtime snack and Webkinz time.

We're down one day, up the next. Life on a roller coaster!