It’s July and if you are like most of us (and by us I mean me), you are already tired of nagging, arguing, picking dirty underwear and socks up off the kitchen table and screaming just wait until your father gets home.
Are you beaten down and facing the horizon of well over a month to go? This should help. Create a summer contract that will get you through until that glorious first day of school when you lie on the sofa, stare at the ceiling and bask in the glory of silence.
And just think, by October 1st you will be complaining about homework and making lunches. Good news? I’ve got a contract for that too.
Your Summer Contract:
Video Games
Video games are to be played for ____ hours per day and only after I have ___________________. Any issue over shutting down the video game after the time agreed upon means I lose the video game for ______________ day/days. I could regain my privilege by __________________________________. (This last blank would be something that would lighten your load. Dishes, laundry, watching a younger sibling, etc.)
Television
Television may be watched for ___________________ hours per day and only if ___________________ has been done first. Any arguments over television will result in _____________________________. See above regaining of privilege.
Working Out/Exercise
I will remain active this summer. Even if that means I am just taking a walk with friends. I will spend at least __________________ minutes/hours per day doing something active. Some ideas for being active include: ___________________________________________________________________.
Bedtime
This summer I will go to bed no later than ________________ o’clock. Failure to do so means you can wake me up at _____________ o’clock a.m.
Chores
I agree to do _________________________________ this summer without argument. If I give you attitude, I agree that you may take away my _______________________.
Sleepovers
I may have __________ sleepovers per week (______ at our house, _____ at someone else’s house that you like), if my chores have been completed and I have had a good attitude.
Money
I realize you are only going to give me a maximum of ____________ dollars per week and anything above that I will have to earn on my own.
Job
I agree to get a job this summer as I realize you are not going to pay for all of my activities.
This is just a starting point. Some of it may work for you, some of it not. Choose what you need, delete what you don’t and add whatever it is that you need to maintains some sanity in your life. Feel free to leave any additional ideas in the comments below. Happy Summer!
