Inspired Parenting Ideas for Mother's Day

by Pallas Hutchison

I did not come up with either of these ideas but I implemented a modified version combining both ideas last year. I pinned a print-out of both to our bulletin board in the kitchen, where we keep our school calenders and write in all of our activities etc. It has worked surprisingly well. My kids feel that they have some control over their life and I have to play the "bad guy" less often.

Original sources:

• http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Out-of-Being-Grounded
  
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/24/mom-creates-grounding-chart_n_5206707.html
  
  

Congratulations: You got Grounded!
To get ungrounded, you must earn 500 points.

10 Points Each:

• Write a nice letter to someone in the family
  
• Water the garden
  
• Weed the garden
  
• Empty garbage and re-bag (both bathrooms & kitchen)
  

25 Points Each:

• Empty the dishwasher (yes, the whole thing)
  
• Clean and wash kitchen counters
  
• Clean and wash kitchen table
  
• Wash stove (top & oven door)
  
• Vacuum common areas of the house
  

50 Points Each:

• Load Dishwasher
  
• Prepare and cook dinner
  

100 Points Each:

• 1 Load of laundry (wash, dry, fold, put away)
  
• Clean 1 bathroom (floor, sink, tub/shower, and toilet)
  

How Not To Get Grounded

1. Treat your parents with respect. Do something special to make them happier. Use your manners. Make them think that you’re a good kid. 
2. Talk to your parents. Compromise with them to see if they can unground you. Try to talk them into making your grounding shorter, or ask if they will give you an alternative punishment, like doing extra chores. Talk in a respectful and mature way.
   
3. Do your chores without being told. Your parents will be surprised and may unground you. This will save your parents from stress. This is also a really good idea if your chores are what got you grounded in the first place.
   
4. Accept responsibility for your actions. Apologize and realize what you’ve done wrong. Don’t put the blame on someone else. This shows your parents that you are responsible for your actions. Try and solve the problem or promise to never do it again. Sometimes it is better to accept punishment.
   
5. Have fun while being grounded. If they don’t unground you, then just have fun while being grounded. Being grounded doesn’t always have to be boring. Find out what your parents will let you do and take advantage of it.
   
6. Avoid being grounded for the next time. Learn from your mistakes and promise your parents that you’ll never do it again. Don’t get grounded so you won’t have to try and get out of being grounded.
   
7. Don’t constantly nag your parents. If you keep nagging to get ungrounded, it might result in you getting a longer punishment.
   
8. When you finish doing the thing you got ungrounded from, thank your parents for ungrounding you and tell them that you’ve learned from your mistakes.