The Chum Bucket...and the Krusty Krab

We love Spongebob. I know it's not the most innocent show, but it just cracks me up. So it was especially fitting when my sister told me about a friend of hers who had a "Chum Bucket" in their house. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Chum Bucket is used regularly around here. It has probably been one of the best parenting techniques I've used. Any time there is a problem: arguing, breaking rules, arguing, disobeying, being disrespectful, arguing, etc., I don't have to stop and think of a consequence. The immediate response is, "Go to the Chum Bucket."

It's filled with things the kids don't like to do: cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the family room, cleaning everyone's bedrooms, wiping down the kitchen cupboards, cleaning baseboards...oh, wait. Did I say things they don't like to do? I think I might mean me...

On the flip side, we have a "Krusty Krab" with rewards for the kids. These are for when I notice a kid doing something nice for someone else...or just being extra good. The other day, Mr. C offered half his dessert to M-Dog since there was only a little bit left. So, he got the Krusty Krab. The only stipulation is that I need to believe they are not doing kind gestures merely for a reward. If they come tell me about something great they did, they get a pat on the back and a hug, but they won't be getting the Krusty Krab. It needs to be genuine.

The Krusty Krab is filled with things the kids like: stay up an extra 1/2 hour, get popcorn after dinner, pick dinner for Friday night, get a treat, etc.

I'm always in need of fresh new ideas for both the Chum Bucket and Krusty Krab. So throw 'em at me! Lemme know whatcha got!

"I'm Fasting"

Another story about J-Man. It's not on purpose; he's just been providing me with some good material lately.

J-Man hates Cream of Rice. And oatmeal. I don't really blame him since I would rather eat tree bark than either of those. (By the way, none of the kids love Cream of Rice, but they tolerate it.) However, we have a rule in our house: What's served is what's eaten. These kids are spoiled, anyway. I lace their Cream of Rice with ribbons of sugar. It's not like they have to eat it plain. Well, unless they're not behaving. Then they get it au natural. And they only have to eat it like once or twice a week.

Anyhoo, this morning was a Cream of Rice day. I made freshly-ground rice with our grinder. They should appreciate that! None of that store-bought junk. Home spun!

J-Man had some complaints about my choice of breakfast. I told him I'd be sure to give him an extra helping. When the grub was ready for consumption, I called the kids in. They all came bounding in. Except for J-Man, that is. He sulked on the floor of the family room, trying to hide under the coffee table. I called him again. No movement. I called him a third time, and I saw a bit of writhing, like he was in agony over what he was about to ingest. But, he still didn't budge.

I told him he could go get the Chum Bucket (have I told you about the Chum Bucket? It's a "bucket" with consequences like "wipe down the bathroom," "clean the family room," "pick up 3 buckets of leaves," "pay mommy a dollar," etc. Anytime they are misbehaving, they go straight to the Chum Bucket--an excellent idea my sister shared with me).

Well, he got his Chum Bucket (which happened to be no t.v. for the day), and did his 1/2 hour room time (which they get each time they get a consequence). I figured he would be starving once he got out since this is the kid who out-eats both Superman and I at every meal. I told him he would be eating his Cream of Rice when he was hungry.

But, here we are, and it's almost 5 hours later. He just told me he's "fasting." The only reason he isn't eating is because he's "going to spend time praying and reading [his] Bible." It has nothing to do with the fact that Cream of Rice makes him want to vomit.* I told him that's wonderful and to let me know when he's ready to break his "fast." His Cream of Rice is patiently waiting on the counter.

*I'm sure I sound cruel here, but we always tell our kids that sometimes we have to eat things we don't like. What are they going to do when we take them out of the country on mission trips? We want them to be used to occasionally eating things that don't appeal to them so that when they're presented with something they find repulsive {to them}, they realize it's disrespectful to turn their noses up.