As we completed our sixth month of homeschooling in April, I remember thinking to myself, “We just won’t count this month.”

Although we went through the motions most days, and were given much-needed breaks by family and friends, this month was definitely not the way we planned on homeschooling. A combination of seasonal moodiness, too much sibling togetherness, and a mother/teacher with way too much going on, April will not be the homeschooling month we look back on with fond memories.

But May?

May is going to be fantastic!

More Homeschooling Experiment milestones:
The Beginning
One-month Review
Two-Month Review
Three-Month Review
Four-Month Review
Five-Month Review — What I underestimated

This post is a part of the Carnival of Homeschooling, hosted at The Company Porch.

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***BREAKING NEWS***

In digital Edward Scissorhands fashion, a Wisconsin non-fiction manuscript approaching its deadline, was murdered by its owner, via cut-and-paste, Sunday.

A bystander told PTT NEWS, “This is so horrible! All of us in the neighborhood thought this manuscript had so much potential.”

This is the first recorded death by Trackball mouse in the tri-state area.

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Finally. On the fruit tree at D’s voice teacher’s house.

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When our kids were younger, people would ask us how we got them to behave so well in public.

It’s simple really.

We paid them.

For the past few years, we’ve had a standing deal. It started when we embarked on a tour of Europe with our then five- and seven-year-old. We knew it was a big undertaking to drag young children across the Atlantic, and then another 3,000 miles through five countries.

So our kids earned one dollar for each compliment they received about their behavior.

Truthfully, their behavior in public was excellent before we started doing this, and the fact they already received compliments gave us the idea. It was more “catching them being good” and offering an incentive to continue, than it was ever a bribe. It became a secret family game.

And three years later, we’re still doling out dollars on a regular basis, without them making a conscious effort. Their excellent behavior does not always earn praise, but persistent practice of manners has ultimately created a habit. Now in public situations, we quietly burst with pride as our children exhibit conduct you just can’t buy.

And without fail, their priceless smiles silently tease, “You owe us a dollar.”

Yeah, they got one at the grocery store last month. Punks.

Visit Rocks in my Dryer for more excellent Works-for-Me Wednesday tips!

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Originally published June 26, 2006.

I’d like to introduce you to Harry, my son’s odd-looking, plastic friend.

Harry was an impulse purchase (most things C buys are like this) about three weeks ago. He’d whipped through the checkout line at the consignment shop before I even knew he planned to spend anything.

And Harry cost four dollars.

Now, I’m a saver, but I’ve tried to instill in my children values about money — to include earning, saving, giving, investing, and well, spending. My kids each earn money as employees in my company, and just recently they’ve begun receiving an allowance as well. But sometimes, this is quite a lot of financial responsibility, as I only buy their essentials — the rest is up to them.

Sometimes my kids make excellent money choices. And sometimes they don’t. We even had to set limits about candy purchases, or I feared neither would have any teeth by the time they entered middle school.

I felt that Harry was a big purchase for a kid with only five dollars in his current stash. But C seemed pleased with it and passed most of the afternoon with his sister following the package directions on how to make the miraculous hair grow. He even gave me a stern “talking to” when I nearly dumped out the magic “brain solution” that was supposed to make it grow faster.

Now, three-weeks later, after constant care and observation, Harry is hairy.

Maybe C’s not so bad with money after all.

Every week, we share simple and stupendous times kids make us proud. Just blog about catching a kid being good, or share your story in comments. My comment plugin will leave your link automatically. Former PTT posts are HERE. Complete guidelines are HERE.

PS. I’m a big cheater, but I linked to this post from Robin’s Fun Monday also. The topic is worst hair story. This will have to do;)

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