The Family Plan

I read The Parenting Breakthrough and it has a lot of ideas. This one is the basis of the book and I am so excited to get it going. We have already been working on it for about 6 months and Kyson can already do all of the things under 3 year old and some of the 4 year old things. I have just started working with Kaemon. He is only 2 and still has at least a year and a half before he needs to be doing the 3 year old list.


Three Years Old

Dress self
Use potty independently
Beginning to brush teeth
Pick up toys
Say prayers


Four Years Old

Brush teeth
Make bed
Beginning to clean bedroom
Empty small garbage cans


Five Years Old

Make own breakfast
Make sandwiches
Vacuum
Set table
Clear table
Water plants
Get allowance
Memorize phone number and address


Six Years Old

Take shower
Dust
Load dishwasher
Empty dishwasher
Clean sinks
Run microwave
Make and answer phone calls


Seven Years Old

Wash dishes
Clean toilets
Pull weeds
Have a savings account
Begin piano lessons


Eight Years Old

Groom nails and hair
Get up by self
Participate in sports or clubs
Develop personal talents
Use the oven
Get baptized
Read scriptures daily


Nine Years Old

Mop floor
Bake cakes
Bake cookies
Understand emergency preparedness
Learn basic first aid
Wash car
Vacuum car interior
Hammer nails
Saw wood
Cook veggies
Use e-mail
Wrap presents
Sew on buttons


Ten Years Old

Do own laundry completely
Set personal goals
Play a musical instrument
Maintain personal journal
Participate in exercise
Clean Stove
Clean Oven
Make several kinds of salad
Understand basic nutrition
Use yard tools
Plant plants
Know Articles of Faith
Write creatively


Eleven Years Old

Clean refrigerator
Clean cupboards
Straighten closets
Sew hems
Bake pies
Bake bread
Make several main dishes
Iron own clothes
Plan meals
Mow lawn
Maintain garden
Participate in first aid training
Take babysitting class
Clean windows


Twelve Years Old

Shop for clothing
Have basic fashion awareness
Speak in public
Read newspaper
Make and keep dentist appointment
Make and keep doctor appointment
Keep personal calendar
Read through the Book of Mormon completely
Start basic mission prep.
Attend priesthood activities
Check fluids in car
Babysit
Mend clothing


Thirteen Years Old

Sew simple items
Plan a party
Have own recipe file
Shop for groceries
Keep a simple budget
Learn how to pay household bills
Use ATM
Certify for CPR
Understand prescriptions
Learn meat handling
Learn etiquette
Clean garage


Fourteen and Fifteen Years Old

Do basic interior design
Understand food storage basics
Understand and use a debit card
Learn interest, debt, etc.
Learn business and sales skills
Learn basic civics and politics
Accompany parent to vote
Change a flat tire
Understand the basics of car operation
Memorize seminary scriptures
Do simple household repairs


Sixteen and Seventeen Years Old

Get drivers license
Understand credit cards
Learn retirement plans
Continue mission prep.
Understand interviewing
Understand advertising
Start career planning
Arrange for car insurance
Perform household repairs
File tax return
Deal with auto mechanic
Plan landscaping
Pay for and use a cell phone
Get a job

I really hope that I am strong enough to teach my children all of these things. I really want them to know what they are doing when they move out. I plan on everyone making spiritual and temporal short term, medium, and long term goals.

Family Goals

I was reading and article in the Ensign that talked about how to keep a strong family. I have to admit that the conference talks and Ensign articles speak to my heart more than anything else. I love to read and learn from the scriptures; but I feel the spirit so much more when I read the words of our latter day Prophets.
Anyway, this talk gave five things that would equate to a strong family in the gospel; a family that can overcome the world. I typed them up and printed them out. They are now posted on my board where I can see them every day. I am trying harder each day to make these a part of my life.

1. Family Prayer
2. Family Scripture Study- can be very fun!
3. Family Home Evening
4. Regular Family Dinner
5. One-on-one interviews- right now it is one on one time while the kiddos are young.

I have felt a huge change in myself as I have worked to be a better mother and wife. Every day I see more improvement. I am becoming who I really am in my heart. Some days I feel defeted, that I will never overcome my shortcomings. That is when I pray the hardest to my Heavenly Father to give me strength beyond my own. I love what the Church has given me. I am so much more because of it. It is so deep in my heart and that makes me happy.

Kyson Isms

So my four year old reads. He has been reading since he was three. I realized the kid was smart when he came to me at 18mo. saying "wy, wy" I looked at him ans said, "Why what?" He handed me the letter Y. By age two he had the alphabet memorized and numbers one to ten.
One of Kyson's favorite things to do is read at bedtime. He sits in bed and reads a book until he goes to sleep. The other day we were having lunch and he was telling me that if he ate and ate through the hole then he would get a sto-man-chee. I asked him what a sto-man-chee was and he said if you eat and eat like the caterpillar then you get a sto-man-chee. Suddenly it clicked, a stomachache! He was trying to say the word stomachache! I started to laugh and pulled out the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar book. I read the word and explained how it was really pronounced. Love that kid!

A few more Kyson Isms

Snoofpy = Snoopy
Elbabow = Elbow -Unfortunately he doesn't say this one anymore. I loved it.
Ugly Dumplings = Chicken and Dumplings
Apripop Teats = Apricot Tree-(Popcorn Song)
Planyo = Piano