Lynda Loveland: Hallo-mean!

home on your seat!

The line has been drawn in the sand. If behavior doesn’t improve from the three young ogres living in my house, there will be NO HALLOWEEN! My husband and I are fed up with instructions not being followed the first time they were given. It’s pretty much an overall lack of listening.

Here's what we did. We counted up the number of days left before Halloween. Right now there are 14 days left. When they misbehave they get a strike. If they get 14 strikes before the big night, they sit home. And they can get more than one strike a day.

We actually started last week. Who knew my kids were such over-achievers? They each compiled anywhere from 5-7 strikes in the first couple of days! Or maybe they just got it confused with bowling. Anyway, things have evened out a bit this week and as long as they don't get one strike a day from here on out, they'll be howling in happiness with the rest of the goblins instead of howling in pain from missing out on the sugar extravaganza.

We've decided to give them opportunities to earn strikes back, not with extra chores but with feats of exceptional behavior.

If it doesn't work out for them, the costumes will hold till next year, cause I bought 'em big!