Why not check with the local hospital and see about crocheting little hats for newbies? Or a blanket for an elderly person - not a full afghan but maybe like a lap blanket?
I know this is a crazy thing, but when DUde was really really having his ME ME ME personna - I took him to the Childrens ward at the hospital and walked him through the cancer ward. He saw the kids with no hair, in beds, hooked up to tubes, and ya know....after that? After talking to the kids who KNEW they may die, and were still thankful for someone to just stop in and say hi? EVEN HE was humbled for a long time. Sometimes I think it does our kids good to do volunteer work like that - with sick kids, or elderly people - and they LEARN....and the best thing to me is OUR KIDS HAVE HUGE HUGE HEARTS because if NOTHING else - they KNOW exactly what it's like to be PICKED on and be the underdog. So no one can tell me they don't have a passion for reaching out to others LESS fortunate. It's like a built in gift.
Maybe if Missy met someone like that and had a purpose for crocheting? It would be a stress reliever and give her something to look forward to - seeing someone? If she does a row? Okay fine - if not? Okay fine. NO deadline on the blanket or hat......just a conversation and hello for 5 -30 minutes a week with someone other than SELF? It could be the start of something?
Just a thought. Sometimes when we do for others it helps us more than we realize.
As far as the slop?
Best thing I ever read on cleaining was to make a list - of THREE things each day for kids like ours --------and have them do ONLY what is on that days list so they feel a sense of accomplishment. Keep the list simple, short and accomplishable. THEN PRAISE lavishably - and if the lists are done each day - you can begin to post the next days chore list - ahead of time and IF they want extra credit in the form of CASH - they can do two lists or SIX things at once - but they must be completed totally to your satisfaction. ALL rules are agreed on ahead of time. But ONLY three things - this worked so well in the boys' bedroom I couldn't believe it -
Instead of saying CLEAN YOUR ROOM - I would say - TONIGHT - I want you to: MAKE YOUR BED, PICK UP YOUR LAUNDRY FROM THE FLOOR AND PUT IT INA BASKET ON YOUR BED so I can do laundry....and pickup ANY red toys and put them in the toybox. ONLY RED TOYS. Anything else on Monday nights? Got left on the floor. No other dusting, no other nothing. They thought I lost my mind. But.....The beds got made, the laundry got picked up (and sometimes I would say ONLY whites), and all red toys - before going out to play. Tuesday it was all BLUE toys, ALL surfaces dusted, and any socks and underwear must be put in your dresser drawers.
Trust me - it worked.