time-outs | temper-tantrums | and a tutorial

Sometimes, I wish mommy-hood was all about smiles and sunshine and sweet little cuddles... however, we all know that is not the case!  Especially when it comes to this little stinker pictured below.  This girl.  My mother wished this on me and now here it is, staring me in the face.  She has such a strong personality and is confidently independent.  Sometimes, time-outs seem to be more work for me than a consequence for her. 

When I found this tutorial for a calming jar, I knew it was a good one.  I pinned it away for a rainy day.  Well, the storms hit, the day PJ turned 3, and I untucked this tutorial and was hoping it would help with the temper-tantrums
and the time-outs.  

So, here it is. My rendition of a calming jar, which we are referring to in our little family as the
"I need a moment" jar.  I followed this tutorial with only a few modifications.

First off, as spelled out in said tutorial, you'll need a jar of some sort, clear glue, hot water, glitter and a very adorable little helper. 

While the recipe I followed used a mason jar and I loved the way it looked, I could only visualize it exploding into glittery glass pieces all over my new hard wood floors in a moment of 3 year old rage, so I opted for a peanut butter jar
>>> yes, plastic.   
{sidenote | do you know how hard it is to get a peanut butter jar completely clean?  ya! that was a treat} 
After spending what felt like 2 days 20 minutes, give or take, cleaning out the jar, I realized, uh-oh, this leaks!  In walks the hubbs, and could sense my frustration {we will just leave it at that, k?} and he said not to worry, that he would seal the jar!  I didn't argue.  I figured him being a plastic major had to come in handy at some point and this would have to be it.

I used about 2 tablespoons of the clear glue and 2 cups of hot water, and that nearly filled my PB jar to the brim.  Then, together we "spilled" in the glitter as my little chickie refers to it as.  No, not pour, SPILL.  I wasn't sure in which order to do these steps, so I added the glitter last.  It did take a while for the glitter to head to the bottom of the jar.  It would just sit on top of the water|glue mixture, so I stirred it with a spoon and that seemed to help.  I also spray painted the PB jar lid a silver metallic spray paint, for some added pretty.

After much spilling, and much stirring, we got most of the glitter to settle to the bottom of the jar.  There seemed to be a layer of glitter that just would not settle, so a few drops of clear glue to the top of the mixture helped with that.

I absolutely loved doing this project with Presley.  She got so excited with each color that was spilled into her jar.  And of course, she had to spill each color that she picked out "all by herself."  Which did not lead to a glittery mess all over my kitchen.  No, not at all!

The hubbs pulled through and used a clear silicone around the opening of the jar and on the inside of the lid, screwed it on really tight, wiped off the excess, and instructed us to let it dry overnight.  I think I may have been just as disappointed as Presley.  We both just wanted to shake the hey out of the jar and see what it could really do, but we didn't.  We let it dry overnight.

The next morning, we tested it out.  No leaking, check!  Lid could not be unscrewed, check! The glitter actually dispersed when shook, check! and settled just as it is supposed to! check!!  all in all, success.  Now here's to hoping that besides being a fun project, that it will have some displinary action as well.  Fingers crossed! 

so here's the nitty gritty

• find a jar and get it good and clean, spray paint the lid
• use 1 tablespoon of clear glue to 1 cup of hot water
  {a standard size peanut butter jar will use 2 tbsp to 2 cups}
• "spill" in glitter to desired amount and stir as needed
• if using plastic, coat edge of jar and inside lid with clear silicone, screw on tight, and wipe off the excess
• let dry overnight {husand's orders}
• shake and enjoy