I am grateful for child training.
Laundry at my house–I start it usually with a four or two year old helper. Depending on what’s in the load, I hang up the things that can’t or don’t go in the dryer. In the summer, we hang everything on the clothesline, but in the winter I use hangers and a couple of big drying racks. I dry all the little stuff that annoys me to hang or that we don’t have room to hang. One of the girls hangs diapers and what not that goes on the drying rack they can reach. One of the girls switches the laundry. One of the girls pulls out the clothes from the dryer. They fold and put away all the children clothing. It’s easy peasy pie with the family closet system.
I am so thankful because now laundry is not the overwhelming chore it used to be, nor is it all on me.
Meals at our house–I have a kid of the day helper–Five weekdays and five kiddlets. I couldn’t have planned it better. We ‘cast lots’ (eeny-meeny-miney-moe) to help with big desserts like the gingerbread pumpkin trifle Brielle is making or extra meals. It pays off in spades to let a two year old help you in the kitchen because then by the time they are six, they can make your and Dada’s panini all by themselves when you get accosted by a ravenous infant.
Chores at our house–generally speaking, the chiddlers are just expected to do whatever is asked of them with a joyful heart. Aviana is responsible for care of our rabbit and feeding the barn cats in the morning. Brielle is in charge in the evening. Cadrian and Brielle are responsible for emptying the dishwasher. Aviana, the clean dishes off the counter and loading it. My policy is don’t ask an older child to do a job that a younger child is capable of doing.
Oh how I wish I would have had my kiddos help more around the house when the were smaller!! Sounds like you're raising wonderful helpers!
I'm sorry about your friend…sounds like she was a wonderful person and woman of God!
A Marvelous post. I am sad for you and your friend's family, and proud of you for posting your need to get right with the Lord. Please add Bill and I to your prayer list. I love your blog and admire you! Child training is mandatory. You are both doing a marvelous job.
This is something I'm REALLY working on the last couple of weeks. I used to have jobs for Zach, and since the girls it somehow went by the wayside. He still helps, but not routinely like he used to. I realized I've been "rushing" them all.the.time. Getting lunch ready, getting in the car, getting out of the car, getting ready to leave, picking up the living room….always rushing. Instead of taking (and making) time to do it at their pace, and then letting them do it.
They both help fold laundry as is (Callie really is terrible at it) 😉 But there are so many things they're both MORE than capable of doing and I need to allow them to take that on. …patiently 😉