Tickets

Recently we have decided to start giving the kids allowances due to the increased "I want" theme at our house. We cannot step inside a mega store without hearing "Let's go to the toys" or "I want to buy it!" So for the past couple of months with helpful advice from the Love & Logic presentation at MOPS, we have been giving allowance and paying our kids to do random things around the house. Aidan has become quite the little saver. He loves money and wants to be Mr. Crabs because he doesn't have to work and has lots of money. Today he wanted a toy at target and I said he could have it but he would have to give me $7 from his piggy bank when we got home. He actually thought about it for awhile then finally decided to buy it. We got to the car and he said, "Mom, I don't want to give you $7." I said, "Well, I have the receipt, do you want me to take the toy back in?" He replied, "No. I'll pay you."
So we got home and brought me $7.
Later he made a mess in the bathroom with a blue Popsicle and left it. I told him he was going to have to pay me $2 to clean it up. He asked where the vinegar was and got the paper towels and cleaned it up himself. Wow! That was awesome.
Now he gets tickets, for doing naughty things much like a police officer would give. I write one up on these special post-its I got on sale at Michael's. He has to bring me his ticket and give me a quarter. Example of tickets that have been given: not buckling up, messing with his brother, not listening to mom or dad, talking back, picking his nose. I like how this is working out. It is nice to watch my kids take some responsibility on, even if cleaning their rooms isn't exactly how I would clean it.