Time trading

I have really been working with my little ones on redirection. The girls and Ryan and Daniel have such a hard time getting to bed. I have blogged about my dad's theory on bedtimes before. He said if you got up early, you would go to bed when you needed to. By rising early (we never never slept late in my parents house growing up) you went to bed early because you needed to! You might stay up late once in a while, but for the most part you went to bed. I have taken this a step further with my little ones. We are "trading time". For every minute past bedtime that they are up and talking, it is a minute of time you owe mom. I have to stay up until everyone is in bed, so if I have to wait on the children, they can wait on me. All eight of my yappy children have gotten up 60 minutes early the last two days and helped mom clean before we get ready for school. The bathrooms and playrooms and bedrooms and halls are looking great! It is a fair trade to me. But judging by my aggravated "time traders" I do not expect to have this problem continue too long. But, on a very positive side.....it is likely the "best for mom" consequence I have thought of yet! I have to get up (although not any earlier than normal for me), but I have extra hands helping me unload the dishwashers, and setting the table and errand running! While my girls are still yapping, mom is very happy:)