A few weeks ago, we got an unexpected windfall: a $50 gift card, a thank you for participating in a program that matches health students with families who have children with special needs. Christian decided we could use it to have a little fun, buy some things that weren’t in the budget. And Alex could have a new toy. Not any toy, but something in the $10 variety. So we loaded up and headed off to the Evil Empire (AKA Wal Mart), where Alex promptly decided he had to have a Buzz Lightyear.
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Now, this is a $35 toy. There was no way we were spending that much of the gift card on yet another toy for the child who just got a dozen new toys for Christmas and a Mickey Mouse train at Disney World. But Alex was adamant. Nothing else would do. Sick and overtired, he melted down, and we went home without anything at all.
The next morning, we presented him with a solution: He could work for us to earn the money for the toy.
Christian made a chart in 50-cent increments, stretching to $13, and Alex set to work.
In the last three weeks, he has swept the kitchen floor, vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom, changed beds, folded laundry, hung coats, and cleaned up all the toys in the basement. Most amazing of all, he’s done almost all of it without complaining. It gives me hope, a glimpse of the time when all my kids will be big enough to help out around the house. What will I do when he completes the chart?
Maybe I should offer him the chance to earn the Buzz spaceship he wants, too. Hmm…
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Kathleen M. Basi 
Good for you – you are a great mom!
Charts are amazing! Just refer to the chart and all children know where they stand and no additional words are needing to be said when shopping.
heh that’s awesome 😀