Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin

Monday, March 30, 2009

That'll Teach 'Em!

I just had to share this. I found it on Craigslist and couldn't quit laughing. I am not one that advocates child abuse in anyway but this one might just work. I can totally relate to this guy's plight as having a 13 year old will test anyone's patience. He may have just found the perfect "listening" tool or tools depending on how you look at it. So here it is...... Please don't hate me if you think this is cruel, I just thought it was funny.

Hello,

This may sound strange but it's been brewing in my head for a long time. Like many of you that have children, mine don't always listen. I'm starting to get really tired of this and have an idea for how I'd like to help motivate a bit of change around my house. I'm looking for a stack of bricks (50-100), preferably regular house bricks as my children are 11-5 in age and can't pick up the big ones.

My idea is that I'd have a stack of them at one end of my yard and when they haven't done what I've asked (like hang up their clothes for the 4th time that day) then they can move the brick stack from one side of the yard to the back of the yard. Nothing horrible, but it'll be nice and boring and hopefully it will teach them that picking up their clothes is so much easier than moving bricks :)

If you'd like to help out with this little project of mine, please let me know. I'll be happy to come pick them up and I'll pay you $10 to take them off your hands. I live in Boise and will travel anywhere in the valley.

Thanks!
Mike

Well, what did you think? Mean as heck or just the perfect plan? I personally think it could go both ways but it is creative as most of today's children don't seem to know the true meaning of hard work in relation to the luxuries they have on a daily basis. Mine included as evidenced by the recent loss of her cell phone usage for a week. Maybe I will try bricks when the texts exceed 5,000 per month. That would likely go over like a ton of bricks....... Get it?

16 comments:

  1. Hi Heater,
    Love your blog, especially the header picture, my favorite flower is daylilies and I have the in yellow all over my back yard. We used to give back yard chorus , but with purpose lawn mowing, weeds cleaning, leave picking….
    Cheers,
    Dee

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha ha ha! I like the moving the bricks punishment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOL! Wow, I don't think it's cruel. I think it's actually quite meaningful and funny!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pretty funny, I wonder if it would work for my daughter :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Haha - while they're at it, can they build a raised garden bed with those bricks? I've been known to send my kids out to pick up sticks or rake leaves to earn back priveleges that have been revoked. It's one way to get em outside!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Heather~~ I think it's a good idea if your kid does something to merit this kind of punishment and this is where it becomes subjective. I might have tried it when my kids were younger. I don't think it's child abuse unless of course there is cruelty involved. For example being forced to do it barefoot in subfreezing temps or during the heat of summer or being threatened with worse. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. In Romania we have a punishment: stay in your corner, but on walnuts shells. I don't agree with physical punishments, like moving bricks, maybe 10-15 bricks, but not more. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. A little bit of work is good for kids. They spend too much time playing video games and just sitting on their backsides nowdays. I love the way they put it - that the kids will find out that picking up their clothes is a whole lot easier than picking up the bricks. Oh and JGH had a great idea about building the raised flowerbed while they're at it! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think it is great - though I think if his/her children are as stubborn as mine, then I imagine there would be a lot of balking :-D Regardless - it isn't a bad idea - and will help build up muscle!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Heather, this is funny, not mean at all.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It made me laugh! Someone was really frustrated with their kids. Boy, do I remember those days!

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG, Heather, my 14 yr old just lost her phone for a week (for over the limit texting!)..and no sleepovers (get them where it hurts!). I agree, if they're moving bricks, why not have them build a raised bed. Tough love..lol.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think a little hard work would "straighten up" a lot of people!
    So many have become lazy. What they need is a taste of the outdoors. Whether you're young or old, hard work won't kill you. It builds character and teaches you to appreciate yourself and others.
    Wish I'd had a stack of bricks for my boy!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think it's very creative! I don't like the idea of having kids do this more than once or twice, though. I think it would help them figure out that they would rather put clothes away than move piles of bricks all day long! My kids are horrible w/picking up clothes, etc. I could still try this with my son, who's always finding excuses about why he can't do basic things like picking up! He is on restriction from his cellphone, and the computer at the moment, as well! It seems we all are dealing w/the same issues, no matter where we are living. Happy First Day of April!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. More power to him! My little guy is just 20 months and we're adamant about him picking up at least some of his toys, clothes, etc. I realize more resistance will come but for now he does it most of the time (more so if you make a song or game out of it!) A trick for slamming doors ... remove the door. (my husband's father apparently did this to him)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your ideas, suggestions or greetings. I love to hear from you and read them all.
-Heather

About This Blog

We started this blog in Feb. of 2009 to help us stay motivated and to track our progess in the garden. We live on 5 acres surrounded by Idaho farmland. We have wildlife galore and are attempting to attract more in the bird catagory. This is our journal. Welcome!

Us

Us
Oregon Coast 2008

  © Blogger templates Palm by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP