On Friday, the first official day of our Financial Curriculum Summer Camp, I did my early morning bike ride and then I rousted the boys out of bed at 8:30 a.m.
We began the day with a little 20-minute video: Admiral McRaven's Commencement speech. There's nothing quite like having a Navy Seal tell my teenage boys that, "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed." (There's more; our family really liked it).
We made beds; then we made waffles; and then we began "Camp". I pulled out blank calendars I'd made for each of the boys, and we entered details for the week. We talked about the importance of
. . . and J-son helped fence in the garden and mulch under our tree.
We began the day with a little 20-minute video: Admiral McRaven's Commencement speech. There's nothing quite like having a Navy Seal tell my teenage boys that, "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed." (There's more; our family really liked it).
We made beds; then we made waffles; and then we began "Camp". I pulled out blank calendars I'd made for each of the boys, and we entered details for the week. We talked about the importance of
- communicating schedules with other people;
- writing down events planned for specific times;
- having a separate, but nearby place, to record things you need to do;
- making plans for things you hope to do.
As an example of planning, we each listed six meals we'd like to cook (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners). We decided who would cook what when; we wrote that in our individual calendars and on our family calendar.
Next, we listed an order for our "to do" items for the day, and then tackled those chores.
And the boys, they've begun to groove to their chores. "Grooving" as in, early in the morning, I had to gently mediate between them over which of them was "allowed" to finish edging the walk. N-son got to edge the walk and dump the extra sod pieces in the compost . . .
And when I told them it was time to stop to come in for lunch, they said "we're not hungry; can we just finish?"
*******
We were supposed to be done with camp at 1:00, but we all made such good progress that we finished by 12:30, and I "released" them to do whatever they wanted. That "whatever-they-wanted" seemed to be mostly electronic entertainment -- playing games on cell phones. It's so easy to lapse into mental junk food, isn't it? I'm glad I've put together a bit of a program so they're not e-entertained all day long.
******
Already, now that it's Monday morning, I'm glad that I kicked the summer off with a family calendar meeting. J-son has made a few successful plans with friends (he's at a sleepover now), and he's already had to turn down a few invitations because of already-scheduled events. I've had several good meals cooked for me and the rest of the family.
******
Already, now that it's Monday morning, I'm glad that I kicked the summer off with a family calendar meeting. J-son has made a few successful plans with friends (he's at a sleepover now), and he's already had to turn down a few invitations because of already-scheduled events. I've had several good meals cooked for me and the rest of the family.
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