Get it done, then have fun

I think we took a big step forward yesterday toward having more fun as a family.  I've often envied some of my friends' families because they seem to find more time for fun than we do.  They're out more often with their kids, having more cookouts, more time in parks, more going to festivals.

What about us?  The kids don't have the "adventure" gene.  Except for sports--which leaves my wife out of the equation--they'd rather stay home.  And when they are home, they'd like to spend most of their time with electricity--TV, the internet, iTouch, and videogames.

We took our first step we took to shake things up last week by making them sign up every morning for specific hours when they would each have "electricity".  We took our second step yesterday.

There are things we'd like them to do each day even though they are on vacation.  Thirty minutes of reading, a little bit of journaling, and some chores.  In the past, they've procrastinated all day with these tasks.  Every time we have to remind them, Chris and I would get more and more irritated.  Meanwhile, the day would fritter away.  By the time they do it all--if they EVER do it all--it's too late to go out as a family and have fun.  Another weekend day wasted that could have brought us closer together as a family.

Yesterday, we laid down the new law:

1. Wake up
2. Then do this
3. Then do that
4. Then this
5. Then check for chores and do them immediately

It's not just a list.  It's a non-negotiable standard series of events for each morning.  We laminated 2 copies of the list.  And, in case they misplace the lists, we typed it into an iPhone app so that they can find the list if they find our iPhone, iTouch, or iPad.  No excuses.

We don't like to be dictators.  But our kids have ADD.  So do I.  Without lists and structure, it is very hard for them and for me to get things done efficiently.  We had to give this strict structure a try.

It made a huge difference yesterday.  We had to drive them hard for an hour to show that the list was REALLY non-negotiable.  But once it all got done, we went to Summer Fair.  They rode paddleboats and ferris wheels while Chris and I strolled along shopping for artwork for the house.  Later that day, I played tennis with the boys.  We had a blast.  It felt like an unusually care free day.  It started with dictatorship and ended with freedom.