Just to make things clear, this post isn't about spoiled food (although one might think that judging by the fruit flies present in my house...but then, you can't see them, and gosh...now I've spilled the beans about my, ah...not so sweet stellar housekeeping skills)...nope, this is referencing my kiddos!
My Gram (have I mentioned how fabulous she is?) has a theory about "spoiled-ed-ness"...she says, "Even if your kids have a lot of stuff, they aren't spoiled unless they act spoiled."
Apparently Miss E. took this to heart.
One day, Mr. Wonderful was, um, verbalizing his frustrations about our children's lack of initiative with cleaning (bless his innocent heart...he thinks they should just know what/when to pick up...I say they need some guidance...at least a little, "Kids, it's time to pick up"--heck, I still need that!). Anywho, he says to me, "These kids are so spoiled!!"
I...to him, "No, they just inherited my sweet stellar housekeeping skills!"
Well, Miss E. overheard and got very sad. I've always maintained that she has a sensitive soul and a fragile ego.
She says (through tears), "We're not spoiled! Just because you like to buy us lot's of cute stuff...we're not spoiled!"
Yup, Gram's advice held firm and strong with her!
Awh I love the sentive souls. My eldest is just like that. And I agree with your grandma.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweetheart! I am going to use your Gram's line! I love it!
ReplyDeleteAwww what a cutie! I'll have to use that line on my hubs sometime, way adorable!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwwww!
ReplyDeleteI have the same issues with my kids. We don't call it chores, we call it "contributing to the family in meaningful ways", and there are days when I just want to, uhm, walk-the-dog-and-write-and-listen-to-music-and-do-breathing-excercises-and-ohhhhhhhhh-scream!!!!!
Sometimes, it is more work to enforce the things we require of them, and that alone is frustrating!
And then, oh yes, Dear Husband comes in and says "Watch, I'll put my foot down, and they'll have to listen to me!" OOoooh, what, magic foot? My feet are firmly planted on the floor, thank-you-very-much, and it upsets me that he makes it sound as though the problem is completely mine, that it's a matter of him being able to "put his foot down" better than me or something. Good grief. Then, I smirk as he puts his foot down, orders them to "Clean your room", and then has to raise his voice because despite his magic foot and his vague order, they seem to not be affected by his mystical-power-wannabe.
:o)
The truth is, often, kids need to understand that doing a chore half-heartedly (and badly) won't get them out of the task, in fact, it will just prolong the agony for everyone. The other truth is that at their ages, kids need a buttload of guidance when doing a big task. Not doing it for them, but breaking it down into manageable chunks so that they don't get overwhelmed.
That being said, my son Joshua is pretty near needing intervention in this area. He pushes me to the brink of straightjacket-ness.
You're not alone!! Again! LOL!
Goodness! We (I speak, more about me) do need motivation! Whenever I leave one of our dear friend's home...after that visit...I make a "vow" to get it in gear and get to some heavy-duty organizing!!!
ReplyDeleteI need to visit her more! (hm...I wonder if she's up right now?)
*also, thank you for your "strike-it-out" tutorial :o)
Blessings & aloha!!!
oops! one more thing...what a sweet, un-spoiled, darling picture you have posted of Miss E.
ReplyDeleteBlessings & Aloha!