So Pinteresting! {Glitter Jar Edition}

 Teaching our kids to calm down when they are angry is a tough lesson. They don't want to listen to anything when they are upset and it can escalate easily to a full blown tantrum. I saw an idea for a mind jar and decided to give it a try.  

I used items I had on hand: a clean Miracle Whip jar, glitter glue, glitter and tap water. The jar in the pin is such a pretty blue, but I didn't have enough blue glitter so I mixed it up using red, blue, gold and silver glitter glue and gold and black regular glitter. The colors are darker than what I would like, but it was all free! 

I used black duct tape to prevent the lid from "accidentally" coming open. 

Our glitter jar.

 The idea is that when the kids get upset, they shake the glitter jar and have to watch it until the glitter settles. By then, the initial anger will pass and they will calm down.

Glitter jar love! 

So, does it work? I think so. We've only had to really use it twice (both times with Riley). He initially fights the idea, saying "I hate the glitter jar! It doesn't work!" But he is calmer once the glitter has settled.

It is pretty neat to watch. We keep it on the dining room table and every now and then someone will shake it just to watch it swirl.

I'd like to make another one out of lighter colors. We'll be the calmest home in town!

The pin leads to this website. She seems to have found the idea for the jar from this website.

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

• wonder if anyone actually uses all of those cleaning charts/schedules I see on Pinterest.
• enjoy the new ABC Family show 'Bunheads', but giggle when they say it on TV because it sounds a bit like "Buttheads". 
• let your baby cry it out. Grace will not sleep in her own bed. For a tiny girl she is a BED HOG! So I'm determined to get her in her own bed by this weekend. I was always afraid to try the "cry it out" method with the other kids. But with Grace, I know she's not hurt, just super ticked. I think pushing her during therapy has helped me toughen up a bit on her. (Don't feel bad for her, she totally runs this house and she knows it.) 
• wish someone else would feed my family. I'm tired of coming up with dinner ideas! (And cooking it, and cleaning it up...)

Head to Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay!

First & Last

First Day of Kindergarten 8/2011

Last Day of Kindergarten 5/2012

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's okay to...

• have a secret stash of Dove chocolate in the top compartment of the fridge. 
• to re-evaluate the "schedule" I blogged about a while ago. If you drive by my house at 10 AM, there's a 99% chance we will not be outside. We aren't quite awake yet.
• wish I had more self-discipline in so many areas. 
• be frustrated that we are going to be fitted for two more braces for Grace (these will be used to help her keep her elbows straight when we are doing weight-bearing exercises on her arms) and are in the talks for yet another one (she turns her left ankle and I'm concerned the muscles will tighten if it's not corrected). I know the appointments, braces, and therapies are to help her, but sometimes I just feel like ENOUGH ALREADY! 
• be certain I could live on granny smith apples dipped in peanut butter. YUM. (The above picture is from Whole Foods. I'm going to have to try this little sandwich idea soon!)

Head over to Airing My Dirty Laundry to find out what else is okay! 

Grocery List

Riley helped me make a grocery list this week:

Apparently this week we are buying,

• Pizza Rolls
• Pizza
• French Fries
• Chicken Nuggets (This is my favorite, "Chig y nugis"!)
• Nachos
• Cheese
• Grilled Cheese
• and bread.

We're eating healthy at the Rudd house.