Thinking Outside of the Box Parenting

I don't know about all you other mommas out there when it comes to your 3 year olds but in my house there are 2 of them. This is my beautiful, caring, sweet, funny, cuddly, loving Abigail:

but lately my other 3 year old has been showing up lately whenever I am around. We gave her the name Crabigail:

Lately it has been a daily battle between me and my beautiful girl. Unfortunately she is 3 going on 13 and is way too smart for her own good, so she gets very frustrated with me very easily when I either say no or doesn't understand that she is too young to do certain things that she wants to do. You name it and I have tried it to regain my authority with her; time outs, toys taken away, star charts, just listening to her, and calmly talking yelling (not proudly). The result: me completely mentally whooped and Abby still upset.

I was on Pinterest the other day looking up cute Christmas Craft ideas to do with the kiddos when I ran across this idea of a "Calm Down Jar" and I thought it was a great thinking outside of the box for an alternative to a time out, that might just help Abby to take a breath and calm down. So I thought I would share how Abby and I made hers and maybe it will help all of you who have those Crabigails sneaking up on you.

Materials:

Mason Jar (we used a quart)

Clear Elmer's Glue

Hot Water

Glitter

Food Coloring

Fabric for decoration

Directions:

1. Fill mason jar approximately 3/4s full.

2. Squeeze majority of clear Elmer's glue in jar and stir

3. Put a tiny bit of food coloring. (Abby is obsessed with purple so of course that is the color she chose) 

4. Put preferred amount of glitter in (We used 2 tubes of purple and silver glitter)

5. Cut circle from fabric and fit over mason jar lid and tighten tight.

6. Shake Shake Shake! & relax while you watch the glitter fall (takes approximately 4-5 minutes to fall)





Abby's Chill Out Jar