The "Be-Nice" Club!

Most of my days go by in a "daze" of spilled milk , smeared poop on bodies and floors, exploded toys, whining, mashed playdough and food bits everywhere, whining, ripped books, fighting over toys, spilled powders of various kinds, broken lipstick, glue,gum, or suckers stuck in hair, whining, pen and marker on walls, beds, clothes, and bodies, whining, fighting,...you get the idea! Sometimes i wonder if ANYTHING i'm trying to teach these children is sinking in! Until,... the other day... i overhear our eldest, Jemma (who can be notorious for teasing her younger siblings!), making up an exclusive club. I was about to intervene and share my wise motherly insights about including everyone, how it's not kind to leave others out (it's usually Nate because he's a boy), etc, etc. But then i hear the name of this club: the "Be-Nice" Club! And EVERYONE can join this club simply by being nice. Curious, i went to the top of the stairs and listened intently. Jemma and Siri had apparently already deemed themselves "nice" enough for this club, and were in the process of educating little brother on how to be nice! They were putting him through a process of five tests, the only one i heard went something like this: "Now Nate, if Siri has a toy that you want, how do you get it? Do you grab it and run away?, hit her til she drops it?, or say, "Siri, may i please play with that toy for a little while? and when mommy's timer beeps, you may have it back!!" Evidently, Nate must've answered all five test questions correctly, because the girls excitedly initiated him into the club with cheers and a colorful poster that read: "Heray! we are happy! Nate has past all 5 tests of the be nisc klub! he can joyn the Be Nisc Klub evry Monday, Tusday, and Thirsday!" Needless to say, the kids played so well together for the rest of that day, and it was like God saying, "Be encouraged and persevere, what you are doing will eventually produce fruit". (if only i didn't seem to screw up so much in between! disciplining calmly and consistently without anger is REALLY hard!). Any wise insights, tips or suggestions out there?

Here is a funny quote from Nate. We were in the van on Saturday, and Siri, in her car seat, was complaining that she had a "wedgie" that she couldn't remove while buckled in. When we got home, Nate ran to Duane and said: "Daddy, Siri has a perogie stuck in her bum and she can't get it out!" :)