Since Mother's Day Sunday a couple of weekends ago Jo has mostly been with Carol who had a knee replaced. Happy to report that Carol has done really well and is on the path to recovery.
Meanwhile the kids and I have been left to our devices with scheduled visits from Jo - "Mom's going to come to see you at the gym but she's going to leave next morning". Like I'm married to a high flying executive or politician who swoops in periodically. Or being a single parent without the hassle of a divorce.
Jo is the one who keeps this family honest. You really need to wake up at 6:45am to leave the house at 7:45. Laundry needs to be done every so many days to ensure an adequate supply of school uniforms. When it's too late to start cooking dinner you go out. So we had to recycle yesterday's school shirts in the dryer. And the kids are eating curried shrimp and grilled ribeye for dinner that is served too late and we are pulling pranks on each other twenty four hours a day. And hanging out at parks as often as the weather allows.
A few months ago, Jo and I were struggling to get the kids ready. It was a fight to get them out the door in the morning or to get them to pick up after themselves and into bed in the evening. So we started a new system. We gave them a fake dollar if they got ready in time in the morning. After a few days we refined that to two fake dollars each if both ready were on time, and that got them helping each other. Fake dollars would be exchangeable for real money at some undecided exchange rate.
The amazing thing is how quickly and effectively their behavior changed. Most days no fake money is actually handed out. They have not asked for the exchange rate. Gamification works.
So even with Jo gone, the system held. We got to school on time. Homework got done. Library books are being returned. And the house isn't a disaster.
But Jo came home last week. Life is good again.
Meanwhile the kids and I have been left to our devices with scheduled visits from Jo - "Mom's going to come to see you at the gym but she's going to leave next morning". Like I'm married to a high flying executive or politician who swoops in periodically. Or being a single parent without the hassle of a divorce.
Jo is the one who keeps this family honest. You really need to wake up at 6:45am to leave the house at 7:45. Laundry needs to be done every so many days to ensure an adequate supply of school uniforms. When it's too late to start cooking dinner you go out. So we had to recycle yesterday's school shirts in the dryer. And the kids are eating curried shrimp and grilled ribeye for dinner that is served too late and we are pulling pranks on each other twenty four hours a day. And hanging out at parks as often as the weather allows.
A few months ago, Jo and I were struggling to get the kids ready. It was a fight to get them out the door in the morning or to get them to pick up after themselves and into bed in the evening. So we started a new system. We gave them a fake dollar if they got ready in time in the morning. After a few days we refined that to two fake dollars each if both ready were on time, and that got them helping each other. Fake dollars would be exchangeable for real money at some undecided exchange rate.
The amazing thing is how quickly and effectively their behavior changed. Most days no fake money is actually handed out. They have not asked for the exchange rate. Gamification works.
So even with Jo gone, the system held. We got to school on time. Homework got done. Library books are being returned. And the house isn't a disaster.
But Jo came home last week. Life is good again.
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