Going Through Change

Life with a toddler and an impending newborn in Michigan can be... challenging. Let’s just say that layering Aliyah in her winter gear feels like a mini-marathon some days. And don’t even get me started on the time it takes to wrestle everyone into their coats, hats, gloves, and boots. The struggle is real, especially when Aliyah decides she’s had enough of the “let’s take 10 minutes to put on our clothes” routine. Honestly, maybe I need to work on my patience—or my clock management.

While I’m trying to perfect my timing (or at least aim for something resembling efficiency), Aliyah has been working on mastering her own morning routine. Enter the Behavior Chart. It seemed like a fun way to help her learn responsibility—and maybe make mornings a bit smoother for both of us.

We dug out the stickers and crayons, and Aliyah went to town designing her chart. She loved adding her name at the bottom and choosing her favorite colors. The best part? She got to decide what five goals she wanted to focus on this month. It was such a confidence booster to see her take ownership of her behavior and set her own targets. We paired each goal with a coordinating sticker, and on the back of the chart, we listed some fun rewards she could earn—like an extra storytime or a trip to the park.

Every evening after dinner, we sit down together and review her progress. This has become one of her favorite parts of the day. She’s incredibly honest when evaluating herself, and it’s adorable to watch her proudly stick the colorful stickers next to the areas where she did well. I think the stickers themselves are half the fun—three-year-olds are surprisingly enthusiastic about shiny rewards!

Since Aliyah is still young, we tally up her stickers weekly and exchange them for small prizes from her wish list. If she were older, we’d probably do this monthly. But given the current state of my patience levels, weekly seems like the sweet spot.

Creating this chart wasn’t just about helping Aliyah develop better habits—it also gave me a chance to reflect on how I approach parenting. Sometimes we all need a little structure, whether you’re three or thirty-three. Plus, having a visual reminder helps keep things positive and collaborative.

If you’d like to create your own version of this chart, feel free to download the template I made. All you need to do is add the month, fill in the dates, and let the creativity—and learning—begin!

P.S. Life with a toddler is unpredictable, but moments like these remind me why I love being a mom. Even if it involves a lot of sticker charts and coat struggles. At least she’s cute while doing it.