The Lazy Organizer: Teach Your Kids to Work, Part III

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Teach Your Kids to Work, Part III

I have noticed that large families, families that home school, and families that run businesses together are especially good at working together. It seems to me that they have to because parents in these situations can’t do it all themselves and they know it.

I used to try to do it all myself. I used to pick up my kid's toys quite often because it seemed easier than trying to get them to do it. (See how they train us? Don't try to tell me they don't know exactly what they're doing!) Then three years ago I hurt my back so badly that I physically could not do it anymore. Surprise, surprise, my kids were perfectly capable of picking up their own toys and I haven't done it since!

Decide today that you will no longer try to do it all and you will be well on your way to that promotion I promised you!

Read my latest article at GNMParents about teaching kids to work.

Labels: GNMParents, Teach Your Kids to Work

4 Comments:

At March 29, 2007, Tirzah said...: I totally agree. I think we tend to think that it is easier to just do it ourselves. But, if we take just a little bit more time and let them do it, or make the messes along the way, kids will learn how to do a lot of things!!
At March 29, 2007, Kara said...: I agree too! When I was younger my mom made us clean, I knew how to do laundry, scrub the kitchen floor, vacuum well, and get the dishes clean by the time I was 7-8. Eventually as she had more kids she stopped teaching the younger ones, partly cuz it took time she didn't have and partly cuz us older kids knew how to help with everything. But now that all the older kids are leaving the house, she's stuck with a bunch of teenagers that don't want to help with anything and she's completely overwhelmed trying to get everything done or to teach them now.
At March 29, 2007, Kimberly said...: My first thought after reading that is that Common Sense is not so Common (one of my dad's favourite lines). Short term effort for long term payoff is not something that comes easy to me. I have to work really hard at it, and when I do? So worth it!

Thanks for the insights. Here's hoping I can take that lesson and apply it, rather than just admire it from afar.
At March 29, 2007, An Ordinary Mom said...: You are a genius! I loved your article. However, I can see how a mother will have to pay close attention to the individual temperaments of her children. I can see how my two year old Cory is going to cause me to have to get deeply creative.