Thread: Brillant or mean?

My son Alex (who is nearly 11) has been leaving lights on for months. We tried docking him $.50 every time, but that doesn't work... His entire room is lit up like it is midnight every morning right now. And then, of course, he leaves for school and I have to turn them all off. So today, I went in there to feed the fish, and he had his CD player, bed side light, and his overhead light all on.

So I took one lightbulb. Just the one above his bed.

I am thinking it is the perfect time of year to do this... I will just take one light bulb every time he does this, and after a few days of not doing it, he can earn it back.

What do you think? Smart, or mean?

Val

I like it, natural consequences.

I think that's a great idea.

~

ROFLMBO!!!!:lol:

Sounds good to me!

Brilliant. When he asks you why you did that, you can tell him that it seems that he is not using his lightbulbs responsibly and that you have removed it and he can earn it back by showing you he can be responsible with them. :lol:

Nancy Thomas would be proud of you.

I like it.

It reminds me of something I heard once. A mother got sick of her child slamming their bedroom door, so she took the door off. After a few days of no privacy the door went back on and that was the end of slamming.

I think it's brilliant (and I also think I am totally going to steal this idea, AJ is driving me crazy with the lleavinglightsonitis he's got :LOL)

So would it be brilliant or mean to do it to my DH?

Originally Posted by tisme

I like it.

It reminds me of something I heard once. A mother got sick of her child slamming their bedroom door, so she took the door off. After a few days of no privacy the door went back on and that was the end of slamming.

ROFL!!! My husband does this to the kids when they begin slamming doors

Originally Posted by Mama2HoneyBears

ROFL!!! My husband does this to the kids when they begin slamming doors

I plan on using it when he gets more teenagerish...lol. He's not moody yet. I've kept that idea tucked away in my head for future use.

My ds would just go get another light bulb , but I think it's great to get the point across!

I think it's a good idea. My problem is that I can't reach the lightbulbs!

We used to dock Emily a quarter for leaving the lights on. It's her Daddy's biggest pet peeve. We put all of the quarters in a jar. I think we actually all went out for ice cream, her treat! It must have worked, she doesn't do it anymore.

what about putting a sensor on the light? My kids have one on their bedroom light and they will be getting one for their bathroom light. Perhaps the 50c you dock him could pay for it.

Taking the lights would have no effect on my kids except general whining, but if it works for yours it seems like a sensible solution.

Oh, I vote "brilliant". I may have to do that around here too, docking dh for turning (and LEAVING) the bedroom and bathroom lights on when the sun is brighter than overhead light...... just wouldn't work.
I love the idea, not at all mean IMO!