Every mom has something that she would like to get off her chest…whether it is big, little or in-between there is always a little something to tell. So, that’s what The Mommy Confessions are all about…confessing. Write a post about your confession for the week and then leave a link at Life Starring The Kids and Me …or if you aren’t a blogger go ahead and just leave your confession right in the comments section over there.Here's my confession: I work my children hard. I expect a lot of them. I think I am right in this. All around me I see children who don't know how to work; I see laziness and coddling. Coddled children become useless adults and unspanked grandmothers who who are meddlesome and needy.
My children are not the norm; we homeschool in an extremely relaxed fashion. Life is learning. And we work together on almost everything. Tonight as I write this I'm doing something different; I'm sending them to bed early! And I have opted to do the clean up alone! This is strange to me and to them. I think they appreciate the break and I will love the quiet. Even Baby R is sleeping already.
What does a normal day hold for my kids?
Get up, dressed, clean room, brush teeth and hair, one chore.
Breakfast and meal clean up
School including at least 2 pages of math
Play
Help make and clean up lunch.
Play and chores in the afternoon - take out trash and compost, clean up toys and books.
Help make supper and clean up.
Bedtime - bath, teeth, jammies, etc.
They help in the yard and garden. As the oldest is 7, they are really responsible for their ages. K and CJ go to the library to get books alone. The library is across the street and down half a block. K has moved a piece of the yard herself (with Daddy supervising). They know how to handle an axe. They know about fire. They know how to use knives. Whatever we are doing, they are right there too. Hauling wood, or trash, or planting or harvesting the garden. Or whatever is fun. Swimming in the river, going to a late night campfire.
Why do they know how to do these "dangerous" things? Because we've made them learn. We've given them the experience. Maybe I'm just lazy and I'd rather sit here at my computer than help my children get their own slice of cheese. Or maybe I really just want them to be capable adults that can function well in the world.
I don't baby my kids; I work them hard. And I'm proud of the way my kids are turning out. But it's hard to say to people in real life.
Striving to learn and live God's purposes,
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3 comments:
Good for you! Your kids sound great; I think you have spared the world a few useless adults. :)
I'm right there with you. I expect a lot of my kids. When I occasionally start to wonder if I'm expecting too much, I remind myself that I'm not raising children, I'm raising future adults.
I think too they have to be a product of their environment. You live in a place where all of these things have to be done. Why should the adults be the only people working? Farm kids know how to run the farm from an early age and it's really no different. Wish we had more opportunities to be so close to nature!
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