Another Day, Another Bear

We've had some issues lately with being sad when we leave our friends' houses. Usually the sadness escalates into a full out fit, complete with crying and screaming.

I do understand where she's coming from. There are times when I don't want to leave friends' houses because it means coming home to the laundry and dishes and sweeping and cooking that are waiting for me there. I usually want to burst into tears, too, when it's time to leave.

But life is full of hard lessons. So to help ease the pain for all of us, I came up with a new idea I like to call bribery. I made a chart. If Lauryn leaves a friend's house without having a tantrum, and reacts well when I tell her it's time to leave, she gets a smiley face on her chart. After a certain number of smiley faces, she gets a reward.

I told her that it's ok to feel sad, and even to cry a little bit when she feels disappointed about something. But the screaming fits were just not going to happen anymore.

I have to say, since we started using the chart it has been like dealing with a whole new child in those moments. This chart thing has been the miracle cure for us on more than one occasion. It has worked with potty training, bedtime issues, and now this. I highly recommend the use of a chart for your own personal gain (and sanity). I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I am not above a little bribery if it makes all of our lives easier.

Today was our first visit to the Dollar Store to collect Lauryn's "reward". If you don't already know, this child is all about princesses. So it's no surprise that she zeroed in on a teddy bear wearing a princess dress and crown. Once she saw it, the trip was over and mission accomplished.

Here she is posing with her bear and also showing off her new haircut. She got 4 inches cut on Monday and it looks really cute!