Several key issues were addressed in tonight's family meeting. Ok, so this awesome book I read Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World suggested it. The Brady Bunch confirms the family meeting's success. Ok--We all took notes. Well, ok. Jack just ate part of a green marker on which we didn't know the cap was off and Ben scribbled triangles which really look like circles (turns out we forgot to teach shapes to kid #2). Grace did however labor over her notebook but it turns out she just drew a ladybug.
Meeting called to order. Called to order. Ha! We turned down the chaos. Got the baby off the table (yep, he can mount a table in 8 seconds. 13 months), reminded Benjamin about kind words and found paper for a distraught mini-me who could not find her regular planning notebook. Uh, huh. She's five. She makes charts.
1. Well wishes to Grace for her start as a kindergartener; kuddos to me. I did not cry. I did however bawl later as I wrapped a marshmallow in cellophane and tied it up with a bow as a surprise for her lunch box that she packed herself. "But, ugly cry, She's, ugly cry, Just, ugly, A, ugly, Ba-a-a-aby" as my husband rubbed my back and rode out one of my frequent emotional outbursts at my kids growing up. And, yes I wrapped a marshmallow up with a fancy bow. Move on.
2. Snaps (Benjamin is the cutest snapper ever) to Daddy for his work in refinancing the house (pretty sure they think that means painting--they snapped regardless);
3. The announcement that $1 would be paid for every button sewed back on for clothes in the Button Needed bin and Ben could earn dimes for refilling the dogs water and food bowls. We did not address the fact that Ben was negotiating two quarters this afternoon when a dime was offered and then later snuck off with said quarters. Not cool. And yet, I am impressed with his instinctive mad skill at negotiation at the ripe age of 2. I would have been more impressed if he had traded them for nickels; according to this crazy survivorist blog that I follow sometimes nickel is retaining its value more. I digress.
3. The expression "when life throws you lemons" was discussed and key opportunities were presented for "making lemonade" out of a weekend trip that was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene. Pirate hunting and icee making was decided upon instead, by popular vote....and literally making lemonade. They are pretty literal at this age, so you just roll.
4. But a highlight was the business of our family's chronic issue of sprawling laundry. A proclamation that a Great Nothing had descended upon our house and was consuming all dirty clothes and towels left on the floor. If they were left in inappropriate places owners would return to find Nothing. Said abandoned clothes and towels could be earned back, however but it would be a difficult quest. If a hunter of the purple buffalo could not be procured (Please tell me you remember The Never Ending Story which is on sale at Target for 5 bucks, btw) then children could earn clothes replaced by the Nothing with chores. There will be a one a week pass by the Good Luck dragon. Grace informed me she did not have a horse, only a bike that she doubted could make it through the Swamp of Despair-- she would put her training wheels back on if she had to traverse them herself-- this sounded better than floor scrubbing as she decided that she preferred a quest rather than chores in the event that she could not find Atreyu. In any event, no towels on the floor tonight and it could be heard from the other room "The Nothing is Coming!!!!" as soon as her brothers' clothes hit the floor. Say what you will, an 80s classic combined with the good old fashioned value of responsibility for your property works for us. The Empress is smiling:)
