You would thing that asking my children to help with chores would not really be a life or death deal. You'd think that they would be so happy to do the fun things they would be happy to help out too! ROFL! Well, any mother worth her salt KNOWS that's not the case:) Kids(and I am making a general statement which does not apply to all!) like to be free, much like Sebastian says, "Children have to be free....free to make their own choices....". But, the Little Mermaid is not real life and in real life we may have LOTS of freedom, but we also have responsibility. Even kids!
Someone commented to me while I was in town yesterday, "I bet it's nice to have your kids home to help out with chores?!" Seriously? If anything my troop MAKES more chores. Kinda like job security. Job security for a job that was already secure. Yesterday as we ran in between pool and dinner I asked the kids to change and help out in the kitchen. In our crazy day running around there were fragments of their "life" everywhere. A couple hid, one went out to swing, one sat at the picnic table listening to her ipod, one was watching tv, one was playing video games, one was in the shower, one on the way to the ballgame and.....Michael cleaned the table off, and Daniel worked until the whole kitchen was clean (and helped me with dinner). As dinner was cooking both boys were able to choose a pudding, to the aggravation of others, for being helpers. Daniel and I snacked on Julie Gail Adkisson's wonderful pineapple cheese ball as we worked in the kitchen.
Of all the things in my day to day life, the lack of helpful spirits is one of the saddest things to me personally. I believe it's that very spirit that makes a person successful. Successful in all the ways that matter. It's that attitude that serves God, that attitude that loves and cares for their family, that attitude that makes friends and it's that attitude that makes us happy! It's sad to me that the very thing that would give some of my sad, depressed(nothing to do) kids the feelings of worth they search for...
For now, I'll continue to be thankful for helping spirits and sweet attitudes.... for my good helpers (I'm pretty sure that is redundant in my mind).
PS...did I add that no bad deed goes without consequence? So choosing poorly doesn't exactly "feel" great either! Ya know, that's life too!
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Good helpers are SO much easier to enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteAmen once again. This is a biggie in our house too--even for the four and five year olds. No helpin, no eatin' because "the lazy man does not eat."
ReplyDeleteI always tell my kiddos, "there is no reason the house or the yard should like like a mess when there are plenty of hands to pick up!"
Love from the North,
Summer