Not a soapbox.... I promise!!

I just wanted to share this little story with you... because as I shared it with a few people today, I am finding that many of us are in the same boat. (or car... as my story goes)

We carpool with a few neighborhood kids everyday.  We often watch a movie and all is silent.  However, I really do like the chit-chat and banter of the kids and so I often opt for no movie.  And sometimes we laugh all the way to school... and sometimes... I want to rip my ears off.  Often a thin line between the two. I mean we are talking about 7:15am here.

Anyway... lately I have noticed that we were all (and I sadly put myself in this category) being SO NEGATIVE.  I don't think we (and this time I am mostly talking about the kids) realized that 95% of what was being said was negative, whiny, or just plain annoying.  And finally, I couldn't take it anymore and snapped.  And didn't have a movie in the car.  And told them to remain quiet for the rest of the ride. Seriously.

When I picked them up from school, I apologized for "losing it", but told them we had to make a change and we had a lovely conversation about why. And then I bought them an ice cream cone so I am not the crazy mom that freaks out. (works every time!!)

So today I went to the car with this....

And as I said, I include myself so I also brought this... 

 

Every time something negative was said, they got a check in the negative column and every time something positive was said they got a check in the positive comment.  No consequences for negatives, no rewards for positives... let's just see how we do.

It was hysterical!!  Sophie - who knew we were "rolling out" our new plan greeted everyone with the cheeriest "GOOD MORNING NEIGHBORS" {insert big smile here}.  Then there were mostly contrived compliments that just cracked me up - like when Kaitlyn 1st grade told Anthony 5th grade she liked his hair very much, I thought he might just lose it.  There were many "catches" as they turned a negative into a positive and we laughed almost the whole way to school.

I plan to do this at least a week... I really just want everyone to realize we need to think about what we say. Words are powerful things.

Have a POSITIVE day everyone!!

Comments

[Lisa Lam]

What a great idea!

[Rene L.]

I really like this idea...might want to add, one day on the way home, just ask them to share one positive thing that happened that day. Each child must share and you are the one that will start by sharing one small positive thing that happened to you. That is another way to get them to realize the small things in life mean a lot, especially in these times. Small reminders of the children we just saw last month on tv who live in their cars etc. Sometimes they forget how blessed we are! I think I did use the soapbox. I loved you post!

[michelle b]

Fabulous idea. I think I may use it at the dinner table.