Good Ideas

I've had a couple of really good ideas this summer, especially where my kids are concerned.  I'm kind of proud of them, because they've turned out better than I anticipated they would.  The first good idea that I had was to teach all 3 of my kids how to do laundry.  We are a family of 5, with 5 pets, and we go swimming a couple (if not more) times a week.  Tons of laundry.  Loads and loads of laundry.  So, I finally taught the kids how to do laundry.  My 11 year old son knows that it's not fun.  But he's been threatened with his life if he even so much as grunts when it's his turn to do laundry, because my 9 year old daughter and 5 year old son both think it is SO fun and cool that they get to use the washing machine.  They willingly do their own laundry now.  Great, great idea!  Why didn't I think of this sooner?

And the other good idea that I had was to have a garage sale.  But not just any old garage sale.  I told the kids that whatever they sold from their own rooms would be their money to use this summer for extra things like treats (like when we go to the water park) or books, or extra things from the gift shop like when we go to places like the Science Place or Six Flags.  Again, WHY didn't I think of this sooner?  The kids cleaned out their own rooms and decided on their own what they wanted to sell.  Isaac sold a few of his more "baby-ish" toys (that's his word for his Elmo and Olivia toys).  Avery sold some of her clothes and her kitchen playset, and some of her stuffed animals.  Samuel sold some of his stuffed animals and clothes.  I also sold a few other things.  The kids made close to $200!  Awesome, right?!?!

Next week, Avery wants me to teach her how to bake a pie.  I am hoping that this good idea won't somehow fall into the "Good Ideas Gone Bad" category.