Live and Learn

Okay. It's time. Time I post about the Energy Chart. I realize this is probably the most hideous looking thing and the last thing you would want hanging anywhere, but you have to try it (if you are a mom of small children). I came up with this chart about six months ago when I was having difficult times with the kids.
Have you ever read Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood Years? It's good. Good ideas. I would try what they call the "energy drain" on my kids (example: child does something wrong and it drains your energy, so they have to do things to get your energy back up to do something they want). Well, my kids were having a hard time figuring out what my energy was or what it meant, so I took it to another level with this chart and it really works like magic (at least for my kids). I am only sharing this ridiculous thing because it works and it is realistic.
Let me quickly explain the terrible drawings. So the arrow works like a thermometer. When my energy is at the top we do fun things (ie park, read books, go places, mom's happy...). On your left of mom is how to get the energy to the top (listening, working, sharing, helping, being independent...). When my energy is at the bottom it's sad (we don't go places, mom's sad, time-outs...). Things we do to put moms energy down are shown on the bottom left (laziness, fighting, not listening, ...). It's simple, it's ugly, but it works.