Making Kids Do Chores

As a young mom, a long, long, LONG time ago,

I wasn't very good about making my boys do chores every day.

They did have things required of them,

but it was mostly outdoor stuff, taking out the trash, or whatever.

I wanted the indoor chores done my way.  The right way.

So I did it all myself.

I was so adorable back then.

Fast forward to NOW.

Now I have a half a dozen kids...

and I finally figured out that I simply must make the 

them all do more.  Even if I have to make stuff up.

For example, I used to give Isaiah a spray bottle of vinegar water and a rag,

and told him to clean the outside of the kitchen trashcan.  

He squealed with delight over such a big-boy job!

And NOW, he's capable of doing so much more.

Anyway, we live and learn, right?

So yesterday we did some chores.

And I took pictures.

And looky at this.

The biggest boy unloaded the dishwasher all on his own.

He noticed it needed to be done, and did it!

I guess my young-stupid-mom approach turned out okay after all.

Hooray!

(He told me I didn't have his consent to post this picture.)

(But, I'm the old-mom now and...here it is.)

Isaiah with a knife.

Young Mom would have freaked out.

Old Mom, she's so calm that she's taking photos.

Ahhhh, it's nice to have cute little (and big) helpers!

(All the other kids were at school and work, lucky them!)

I hope you have a wonderful Friday, friends!

And that you can kick back and be the leisurely mom you were meant to be,

while watching your kiddos do all the housework.

I tend to go to extremes in everything I do.

Good day to you!

this mothering thing

I really outdid myself this time, my friends.

After putting off a big ol' mega-shopping trip to Sam's for way too long,

I finally talked myself into going this morning.

Being that I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, I figured perhaps

I should have a few things on-hand for the people to eat.

(I'm the most gracious hostess you'll ever meet.)

(Just ask me.)

Anyway, part of my angst of going shopping (apart from the fact that I hate leaving my compound),

is hauling my little kids with me, knowing that a certain Mr. Someone is quite volatile.

I have a yet-to-be-figured-out amount of time before he loses all patience and

melts into a puddle on the floor.

And that's when I fall to the floor flailing.

It's a whole big mess and quite frankly, Lucy is sick and tired of it.

So anyway.

I had a grand idea.

From my master-list of things to buy,

I broke it down into two smaller lists:

Lucy's Shopping List

Isaiah's Shopping List

And gave it to them as we entered the store.

They were ECSTATIC!

Honesty, you would have thought I had just given them each a puppy & a pony.

Not even kidding.

They were large and seemingly in-charge!!

They carefully followed their lists 

(and btw, I strategically  put their lists together, making sure to put words that would teach them something),

crossing off their items as we went along.

And Lucy quickly turned it into a contest, saying that whoever got their items

crossed off first, would win.

She is her mother's daughter, I tell ya.

It worked so brilliantly, I amaze myself.

They begggged me to do it again sometime.

Yesssssssss!

After six children, I'm starting to figure this mothering thing out.

where do your kids rank?

Are you feeling annoyed by your kids?
Even resentful?

Be honest.

Do you have more "important" things to do than
placing them high on your priority list?

Seriously,
where do your kids rank with you?

Please go read this blog post.
I promise you, your perspective will be freshened.

Go read it.

Do it.