I Entertain Myself- and That's Half the Win

For me, 65% of parenting is entertaining myself. 

When Andrew was 10, he was quite argumentative.  I issued a new policy, he could always have the last word, as long as the last words, were these:

Did it work?  I doubt it, but I giggled to myself imagining him responding to me that way.  

I FaceTime Andrew from different locations of the house to tell him it's time to turn his phone in and go to bed, or take out the trash, or whatever.  Because he answers, and I see him, I know he hears what I've said, and then I hang up super fast, so he can't argue with me about it.  And I giggle that he still picks up the FaceTime's from me, because he's hopeful that this time it'll be something fun (that's the trick- sometimes it is fun!  It keeps him from getting conditioned). 

Well, one of my mother's good lifetime friends, gave me an absolutely BRILLIANT idea, and I put it into action today.  Alexa's Art Studio is "in business."  And in fact, it has a contract to make it legit.  

Here's the contract: 

This Month to Month Agreement is entered into on _________________, be and between the Lessor: _________________ (also known as Mom & Landlord) and the Lessee: ___________________ (also known as Alexa and/or the tenant).  All Lessees are bound by the conditions of this contract.  

______ Terms of Lease: 

The landlord will allow the tenant use of the studio up to one month at a time.  At the end of each month, the landlord and tenant will relook at the contract to determine if the landlord and tenant upheld the terms.  If the terms were not upheld, the contract can be cancelled, or possibly new terms can be agreed upon. 

______ Obligations and Duties of Tenant

1. The studio is to be tidied each night before the tenant goes to bed.  Paint water dumped out, materials gathered and straightened up, chair pushed in, lights turned off, and any other electrical equipment unplugged. 
2. Periodically, when the lessor (a.k.a Mom) asks, the tenant (a.k.a. Alexa) to create a project, the art must be completed within at least 1 week of the request being made.  
3. The art studio will remain empty until all other responsibilities have been completed: lunch made, homework completed, and any chores finished.  

______ Eviction

If the tenant does not comply with the terms of the lease, they can be evicted permanently.  Before a final eviction, the landlord agrees to: give a verbal warning, and allow the tenant 24 hours to fix the problem.  The tenant agrees that after the 24 hours to fix the problem, they will avoid the studio premises for the following 4 days.  

______ Utilities/Supplies

The landlord will provide free electricity, free wifi, free water, heating/air, and free cable (unless an extreme situation such as a household outage occurs).  

The landlord will also provide supplies: paper towels, vacuum, cleaning supplies, and occasionally art supplies.

However, most art supplies will have to be purchased or provided by the tenant.   

______ Alterations/Changes

The tenant shall make no changes, alterations, decorations, or additions without permission from the landlord, to the studio.

_____ Notice of Damage

The tenant shall inform the landlord (or her husband) of any damage to the: wall, floor, chair, table, or nearby areas within minutes of the damage occurring.  

_____ Abandonment

Should the tenant not visit the studio for a period of at least a week, the tenant must clean up all supplies and put away in the upstairs craft closet, or risk having all supplies thrown out.  

_____ Destruction of Studio

Should there be any destruction to the studio, the landlord (and her husband) have the right to determine whether the lease will be continued, depending on the severity of the damage.  

Signatures of the parties to this “commercial” lease agreement

Landlord:

_____________________________               Date: ____________________________

Lessee:

_____________________________ Date: ____________________________

I found an example of a renter's agreement online, and I modeled my contract after it. To a point, this is a bit silly, but it also forced her and I to consider things we hadn't: Abandonment. Occasionally, Alexa leaves things out- and not played with, but I "can't" do anything with them, because "what if she needs them?!" Abandonment covers that issue. The expectations are clear, and upfront.

When I presented her with the contract, Andrew came out and said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, I am here to act as her lawyer, don't sign anything unless I tell you to!" He told her to sign everything. Alexa willingly signed and while she laughed about it, she knows I'll hold her to it. It is taped (with painter's tape, so as not to damage the area) to the wall in the studio to remind her what she has agreed to.

I love this contract. I loved the idea of it, when it was given to me. I love that it covers many aspects of this situation for Alexa and I. I hope that it helps her to be more aware of her actions, and gives clear consequences if she forgets. And honestly- it entertained the heck out of me when I wrote it up. I love brilliant women (I mean- men too- but I am thankful for the brilliant women I have to go to for advice)