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‘Catch Some Kindness’ Jar (she: Veronica)

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Hi there! My name is Veronica and I’m so excited to be a regular Family Time contributor on Or So She Says. I’m a very happy mom of nine fantastic kids. I have no magical answers, no superhuman powers, but I do love my family and feel grateful every day for the life I have with them. You’ll learn plenty about me and my crazy bunch through my posts, but if you want a glimpse into our fun life you can catch me at Nine a Plenty. I’ve thought a lot about what I could hopefully offer as a contributor, and if you gain anything at all from my posts, I hope you’ll gain this:
Give what you can, do your very best…and that will be enough.

I’m not your ‘typical’ mom, and we definitely aren’t your ‘typical’ family…whatever that means. We are a “his, hers and ours” family. We have all been through the ringer, but somehow we have managed to pull together a pretty spectacular family in spite of it. I think my kids are amazing, and I’m lucky to share my life with the biggest kid of all…Big Daddy. He’s a darling Southern boy and I adore him!

People often say, “NINE KIDS?!? I don’t know how you do it!” And I’ll tell you the truth…I don’t know either!! HAHAHA! Actually, I do it just like you. I get up every day and give it the best I’ve got! And somehow it works. 🙂 I’ll share with you the things that work for us along the way, and hopefully you’ll be able to take something and make it your own.
ANYHOOO!
This month, just like many of you, we have been readjusting to routines, setting our goals and just getting back into life as we all know it. The holidays are magical in my home. I magically have a home full of kids who have extra incentive to get along. They know Santa likes good kids! 🙂
But then the holidays are over.
And so is the ‘magic’. 🙂
So, this momma has some tricks up her sleeve.

I’ve seen a lot of ideas using “jars”. Goal jars, conversation jars, favorite memory jars, etc. There are some great ideas out there. But, I’ve got my own jar. And it’s my secret weapon.
I would do a fun tutorial on a fancy jar, but you don’t need one! Just make it your own or find any container that works for you. I just used this cute tag that I made.

Introducing my “Catch Some Kindness” Jar.


Here’s how it works.
Every time you catch someone doing something kind, you put THEIR name on a piece of paper ALONG WITH the act of kindness. Then you SIGN the paper with YOUR name and put it the jar.
Once a week I’ll draw a paper out and BOTH people get a little treat. Some weeks the treat may be a candy bar or a pack of gum. But, sometimes I’ll throw in some bigger items, just to keep my older kids motivated. 🙂
Here’s the reason why. I think it’s very important to teach kids to be kind. They are the ones who really gain the greatest reward. But I think it’s also really important to teach our kids to RECOGNIZE kindness. Because we are surrounded by it every day. We just have to look for it. And I want my kids to KNOW how to look for it.
Hopefully our “Catch Some Kindness” Jar will help both parties recognize that GREAT things come from a LITTLE kindness.

MOM TIP:


Speaking of kindness, don’t forget to be kind to yourself! There are no supermoms or perfect wives, just cute girls who get out of bed every day and give it the best they’ve got! (YES! I called us all CUTE!) My house is not perfectly decorated. I have fingerprints on more things than I’m willing to admit to. As I type this, I have 4 batches of laundry sitting in baskets waiting for my loving hands to work their magic in the morning. I have mystery sticky stuff on my floor that I stepped in a few minutes ago, and in spite of my best intentions, my shower never happened today. 🙂  BUT…my kids are all in bed, with full tummies, in semi-clean rooms, so I can say, “good job mom!” To you…the cute mom reading this right now…be kind to yourself. You are awesome.
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Comments

  5. Debbie Thompson says

    Love this idea, and the cute graphics! Will definitely be putting them to use in my house. Thank you so much for sharing it and the printables. Have a great day!

    Debbie

  6. orsoshesays says

    Awesome! I love how simple this is. My kids would love it! Thanks for sharing your great idea with us. I look forward to many more!

  8. Katie's Nesting Spot says

    Thank you for linking your kindness jar up with us at A Crafty Soiree. I love the label and the sentiment behind this family activity. I’ve featured your post in this week’s newest. It will be up at midnight EST, please come by to see it and share more of your crafty goodness with us!

  9. Jade says

    I am so glad I read your post, your kind supporting words remembering us to do the best we can and to be kind with yourself are very comforting on this particularly hard mommy hood day! And I like the little saying on your blog: mommyhood is not for sissies! Thanks 🙂

  10. Jordan says

    Aww this is so cute, I’ll need to remember this when my son gets older. He can be a pain in my butt sometimes lol just kidding…but not lol

  11. Melinda Todd says

    Awesome Idea! I’m going to do this this weekend. I love encouraging the kids to be kind. We love doing random-acts-of-kindness and this will bolster them to do something good around the house!

  12. Misspam says

    Super cute – thanks for the printables. Could you tell me the name of the font you used for the catch some kindness label? Love it 🙂

  13. Tzigani says

    Thank you for the kindness-jar idea? I’ll try it with my class. I’m a 5th grade teacher on the island of Aruba. Greetings !

  14. Rachelle says

    I have 5 kids, sticky floors, lots of laundry, an unshowered body, and zero motivation to do it all today, so I needed to hear that I’m a cute girl who does my best because I am! Love the jar, love the kindness, but the cute girl comment made me cry. Thanks!

  15. Grammy Jan says

    This made me smile, I applaud you with 9 children I had three and that was enough for me. But I must agree sticky stuff on the floor laundry in the basket less than perfectly clean rooms are all worth it for the hugs and kisses,smiling faces and the magic of childhood dreams.there will be time to keep the house spotless when they have moved on to their own lives. And then come grandchildren that make everything worthwhile!! love your ideas

  16. Elisabeth A Kachline says

    Just discovered your blog. My Kinders and I started the Kindness Elves before Christmas. The Elves left daily notes for the students as to their acts of kindness. We wondered whether the elves (Pop and Sparkle) would come back after the winter break. Now I know just how that is going to happen. They will bring back the Kindness Jar. So very grateful for you and your blog.

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