Today Levacy came to our home to do our first post-adoption interview. First she talked with Andy and I about how things are going. Then she talked with the kids to make sure that they were healthy and happy.
As I climbed the stairs, so that they could have some privacy, I laughed as I heard Natalia say "I like to eat soap." She meant "soup" and Levacy understood, but I laughed to think of what children may tell social workers when there is a language barrier.
We should get her report in a few days and see if we passed as a "happily adjusting family".
Today's highlights included Will jumping off the diving board (which he needed to wait to do until he could swim in the deep end), and my "back-in-a- jiffy" trip to Bed Bath and Beyond. Four coupons later, I returned with a nice new fluffy towel in everyone's favorite color. Forget coordinating much with the rest of the bathroom decors, I just wanted a solution to "whose towel is this laying in the floor?"
Another thing we are trying is an idea borrowed from a friend who read a book on inspiring kids to clean up their rooms. As I am late in the friend loan queue, I haven't actually read the book nor can correctly cite the source. Here is my take on what the circle of girlfriends discussed.
Get a jar for each child and fill it with $1 bills. Place the jar in a highly visible spot such as the kitchen counter. Each child has the potential to earn $1 a day for allowance and can keep any dollars remaining in the jar at the end of the week. Dollars are removed for specific infractions. No more than one dollar can be removed per day. Each week a different behavior is highlighted. (I think the book worked one month at a time, but we need more payouts.)
For instance, we decided that the basics of being a responsible member of the Davis household include making your bed, putting your own clothes away, and leaving nothing on the floor for me to step on. Once we have a handle on these things, we will focus on other responsibilities.
On this first day, not one of our children actually kept their dollar. I removed the dollar bill from each jar with a note to please put your dirty underwear in the laundry chute, etc. I also took a quick picture with my phone. At the end of the day, we discussed what I needed...wet towels and bathing suits hung up, not in crumpled wads on the floor, etc. They seemed to understand, and the net result was a MUCH cleaner house. I'm curious to see if this will have staying power.
Does this look familiar?
10 minutes of bliss on the ride home from the lake on Saturday.
How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1
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