Coaxing habits

Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.  ~Mark Twain



I think Mr. Twain was referring to bad habits needing to be coaxed down the stairs, but if he had kids like mine, he might have been commiserating over the basic process of trying to help them decide on one cotton-pickin' habit to put down on their 100 Day form.  


See my last post for the great idea my BFF Ann(e) came up with. 


 The great idea that is taking the national Blog World by storm.


The great idea that is so simple, yet is making a positive impact on women and children far and wide.


The great idea I'm pretty sure I thought of before she was even born. 


Mine was exactly the same as hers, except I called mine an Encouragement Chart. And mine had a few more than 3 boxes to check. And mine was connected to an intricate system of rewards. And mine was written in fat, black Sharpie with no quotes or cool fonts. And mine had things like "Keep your fingers away from your nose" and "Sit like a lady" on the ones I made for my kids. And there were about 20 things for each child to work on each day - for a year.


Other than that, my idea was identical to Ann(e)'s. (I've always been a little before my time. It's a curse, really.)


But I'm super happy to have Ann(ie) take international credit, us bein' kindred spirits and all. 


 Personally, I had an enjoyable and easy time choosing which 3 habits I would work on for the next 100 days - my only problem was trying to narrow it down to 3.  Leaving so many areas off the list felt akin to saying that there were only 3 things about me that need improving. That seemed too proud for an exceptionally humble girl like myself. But I'm a rule-loving/form follower, so I did what Ann(e) told me to do.


And I had high hopes that my good example, coupled with the lengthy, eloquent instructions I gave, would make the process easier for my own, dear, badly-in-need-of-some-reformation children.


So, I optimistically sent them off to be alone with their form and their God. I patiently waited, with visions of post-100 day children who cleaned under their beds, no longer cracked their knuckles, and looked for ways to make life easier for others/me.


My boys eeked out a grand total of 1 each - and even that 1 seemed negotiable - since they weren't completely convinced it would take anywhere near 100 days to cement their new habit.


Such is the male ego.


I'm just sayin'.


(With threats of no lunch until I saw 3 Mom-Approved habits on the dang miracle form) We ended up each completing our assignments. 


Phew! Now the easy part.  Doing our three new habits each day for the next 100 days.


It is my intention not to check my children's progress daily. I really want them to take ownership and responsibility for this character-building project. (Plus, I don't have time to check on them each day, and it would make my #2 below a little harder.)


Here are my 100 Day Habits
  (1) Drink 6 glasses of water each day - preferably before dinner (for the sake of helping my husband sleep through the night...)
 (2) Publicly praise my husband and children - preferably heart-felt
 (3) Delete 10 emails a day - preferably read first


There were a few things in my top 10 that I easily eliminated because I knew I would have the motivation to do them without the form. Scripture memory - because we're doing it as a family (and the embarrassment when my kids pass me will be enough of a motivator...); exercise (jiggly fat and tight jeans make a form unnecessary) - and there were a few things I realized I wasn't ready to be committed to; daily journaling and no sugar. The beauty of 100 days is that when your 100 days is over, you can choose 3 more things....and then 3 more, all within 2011. That Ann, she is brilliant!


 I've heard from a few of you about things you're trying to put off/put on in this New Year. How's it going? Anyone else take Ann's (originally mine....) challenge? Did you find it easy or hard to limit yourself to 3?