We always had the Advent wreath and each one of the kids had an advent calendar. Stopped the fighting.
My mother also put out a baby cradle. Right after Thanksgiving, the kids could put a handful of “hay” (Easter straw) every time we did something good, and remove a handful each time we did something bad. The idea was to make sure that the baby Jesus (a Cabbage Patch doll wrapped in swadling clothes) has a soft, comfortable bed waiting for him on Christmas Eve.
Cue the Catholic guilt when you had to take away straw from Jesus’ bed!
**Cue the Catholic guilt when you had to take away straw from Jesus’ bed!**
But I still like your idea. It’s not so much about guilt as it is about building responsibility in children to complete their chores, do what they say they will doo, etc.