Movie Money Magic

I'm not one of those parents averse to telling my kids no, but if there is a better way, I'm open to that as well.

It may not be the most beautiful currency ever
issued, but she recognized the back as a DVD.

The movie rule in our house was one a day, until I discovered Laney behaves much better when she watches no movies at all. And, with summer coming, I was pretty much resolved to curb the TV time anyway. The only thing unresolved was the best strategy.

Inspiration struck while grocery shopping with the realization Laney is fascinated by the idea of paying for things. The hubby and I decided three movies per week was fair, so that Friday I issued my own currency. Three tokens per week which she can use to buy a movie.

I had high hopes, even thinking it might teach her a lesson in budgeting. The only worry was how she would react once her tokens were gone.

The first week played out pretty much as expected. She spent her money in the first three days. The fourth day she cried. Then something cool happened. She figured it out! Now, when she asks to watch a movie and I explain she can watch a movie when she gets more money on Friday, she gets excited. She has something to look forward too.

An unexpected benefit: my scheme may cure the same-movie-day-after-day phenomenon. Every time she's asked to watch a movie, it's been a different one. (Or maybe she's just trying to find a chink in the armor by choosing a movie she thinks I will like.)

Time will tell, but I sense success.

Comments

Evergreen asymmetry

This is a chart I've been meaning to get to for a while. The Christmas before last, I was making a whole bunch of Christmas ornament gift toppers . I wanted each to be unique, so some of the miniature sweaters were adorned with duplicate stitch in traditional knit motifs. I hit a snag with the tree. A row of perfect triangle trees is cute. A single triangle tree is not so cute. A chart for a small tree is not hard to find. One which is not symmetrical is. Enter the sketch pad. My goal was a scraggly tree, which was small, but was still recognizable as a tree. This is the result. As a matter of personal preference, I think this looks best when the chart is turned upside down and is used on a piece being worked from the top. That way, the top of the tree comes to a nice point.

Crafting a Legacy

Before my mom taught me to knit, crochet and sew, that knowledge was passed to her. My Grandma Hansen was a tough lady. The kind who wouldn't tolerate rude behavior or disrespect from anyone old enough to control the tone of their voice. She could still a child squirming through church with an outstretched hand. She was also the kind who, with a wink and a smile, would slide an M&M across the table to a kid to shy to ask for one, then elicit a whispered, "Thank you," with a gentle, but expectant, "You're welcome." Grandma Hansen in 2005. Grandma was also a crafter. She gifted many crochet dolls to her grand-daughters. One Christmas, each grand-kid was given a pillow case. Mine, a black and white panda print with lace on the cuff, is still in circulation. Another year it was a pajama set, wrapped and topped with a little crochet animal. My brother's gift topper was accidentally sent out with the wrapping paper, and she made him another. It sh...

Exciting developments

At deer camp, Uncle Mark observed I really need to get back to blogging. He's right! It's been far too long, and there is so much to share. The delay can be partly attributed to my desire to have a video with each blog, which ended up taking much more time than initially anticipated, time I just don't have — but more on that later. Also, my phone storage is full again. In the past, that was solved by using google to back up my photos so they could be deleted, but now my google storage is full, too. I take a lot of photos! Why don't we get to the goodies right away? I have a pattern to share with you! This little fox is incredibly simple to make, and the results are just too cute. It's a basic chevron stitch and whips up in no time. The full pattern is available for free as a ravelry download . The fox design and my lack of time are actually very much related. The story started a couple years ago when my Auntie Becky met a lady named, Lois. Lois had alpacas, a...

Cricket in a Biscuit

Search This Blog