I'm gonna be rich!

It's been one of THOSE weeks at work.

The kids have been a little wiggy... not sure why, exactly. Seems to go in cycles.

Two things in particular bother me that when they get that way. First, they're sort of snotty and mean to one another.

I don't tolerate it when I catch it, because I don't like mean behavior. I want the kids in my care to feel safe... to feel that while they are there, no one will tolerate bullying or simply making fun of someone. That they're all important to me and that I will stand up for them and make sure that no one makes them feel bad.

I don't always catch everything that happens, but I try very hard to monitor their behavior and make them aware that their words/actions have a lot of power.

And in the interest of not being a bully myself, I take kids off to one side of the room so we're not overheard by other kids and explain things to them. I try to model the behavior I want to see from them.

This parenting other people's children gig is a hell of a lot of work sometimes.

Being a glorified babysitter is the best job I've ever had as far as loving what I do, but it is not an easy job.

The other thing kids do when they're a little wigged out is they break rules.
Rules like not putting their hands on each other.
Or not playing full contact Chess.
Or not shoving their friends.
Or not jump over the rugs and endanger people who are sitting there playing.
And not pushing your friends.
And not yelling in their faces when you don't like the way a game is going.
And not hitting them or yelling at them or saying mean things to them.

So on Thursday, I figured out the solution.

I made a general announcement to the kids.

"If I had a nickel for every time I've reminded you of a rule you already know, I could be well on my way to being rich. If you all bring me a nickel every time I have to remind you of a rule, by the end of the school year we'll have enough money to rent a big bus and go to Disneyland!"

They all cheered.

By the end of the day, Reese* owed me a buck.
At a nickel apiece, that's a whole lotta rules.

So on Friday, the  kids kept reminding each other when someone broke a rule... "That's a nickel!"

They love it.

And I figure if they all start bringing me money, thinking we're going to Disneyland, I will be rich by the end of the school year.

:)