Gigi Goes to Prison

As we waited for the ferry to take us to Alcatraz Island I saw this banner –

“Rule 5. You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else that you get is a privilege. You earn your privileges by conducting yourself properly."

I love having my three granddaughters stay with me for a week of Camp Gigi (which is what they call me). I fix kid-friendly meals (i.e. mac-n-cheese and a minimum of veggies) bake their favorite cookies, and stock a freezer-full of frozen treats. We go to movies, museums, have tea parties, and at the very least go swimming every day. I do everything for them and expect little in return.
As they reach the age of sassiness, bickering, and complaining, it occurs to me that I am not preparing them to be productive members of society. Instead a sense of entitlement is being created. Don't you love being around people with a strong sense of entitlement? Whining, ungrateful people who don't take responsibility for their own happiness? Yeah, me neither. I know that's not what their parents are hoping for when they send them to Camp Gigi.
Maybe the way to eliminate that issue is to introduce more structure and a system of rewards or privileges. I believe if the children know what is expected of them they will rise to the challenge. I adapted the Rule & Regulations of Alcatraz and came up with the following:
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF CAMP GIGI 2012
RULE NO. 1
You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege. You earn your privileges by conducting yourself properly.
RULE NO. 2
You are required to work at whatever you are told to do.
By doing good work on your assignments you earn privileges and/or pay for movies, museum visits, horseback riding lessons, cooking lessons, and time for recreation, i.e. bowling, swimming or going to the batting cages.
RULE NO. 3
Complaints for the purpose of creating dissatisfaction and/or stirring up trouble; or if you agitate your roommates into trouble, you will be subject to disciplinary action and loss of privileges (See Rule No. 1).
DAILY ROUTINE
8:00 A.M. – Morning wake up.
Dress, brush teeth and hair, make-up bed and prepare room for inspection.
In order to pass bedroom inspection all books and toys should be place in their receptacles; clothes should be hung or folded and properly stored. Bed should be made in a tight and orderly manner.
To pass bathroom inspection: towels should be hung up; toothbrush and toothpaste placed in the designated drawer, and sink wiped of toothpaste residue.
A laundry basket will be made available for all dirty clothes and towels. You will be instructed on the washing and folding of all clothing.
8:30 A.M. – Stand by your bedroom door, facing out, remain there until room has been inspected. (Ok, we might not make them stand outside the door).
8:40 A.M. – Breakfast will be served.
9:00 A.M. – Clear table of all used dishes, rinse and place in dishwasher
9:05 A.M. – Return to table for morning devotional
9:15 A.M. – Work detail assignments will be given
9:30 A.M. – If all work is completed without argument or complaint, a privilege for the day will be announced.
3:00 P.M. – Reading and quiet time
4:00 P.M. – Arts and crafts time
5:00 P.M. – Begin meal preparation as instructed
5:30 P.M. – Dinner. Be prepared to share a good memory of the day
6:00 P.M. – Clear table of all used dishes, rinse and place in dishwasher

6:05 P.M. – Calls home will be allowed. Correspondence to parents encouraged.

6:30 P.M. – Free time for movies or games

8:00 P.M. – Bath time

8:30 P.M. – Evening devotional, songs and prayer.

9:00 P.M. – Lights out.

You will note there is very little work time carved out in relation to hours of entertainment. I was a little afraid  of two things: the parents would balk at the rules and structure; or the girls would not want to come. No fear. The parents are thrilled they won't have to retrain the girls when they come home. I could even say they are grateful to have the assistance. We are on the same team after all. The girls are still excited about our special time together. They just wish we had two weeks. 

Grandparents.com is a great resource
for everything from coloring pages
to kid-friendly meals.

I’ll let you know at the end of the summer how my experiment works.

"Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did -- they'll turn out delightful to live with." Prov. 29:17 The Message