So before I was pregnant with Maeley the kids had chore charts, they followed them daily with little argument, we had a system and it worked great! Well then I was put on bed rest and well let's just say it all fell apart and honestly at the time I didn't care, I realized that the housework wasn't that important at that time, keeping my little baby cookin longer was. Anyway after she was born and we all got use to the new routines and schedules of a new born, we were thrown another curve ball when Ellie had her accident, and again the chores just weren't important so the charts were forgotten.
It's been 5 months since Ellie came home and I am finally feel like I got the hang of all the comes with taking care of her and everyone else, I decided something that would help would be to bring the chore charts back ya know my sanity and the kids safety(kidding don't call CPS). I found these cute free chore charts. I printed them so there was a front and a back for morning chores and evening chores, then I slipped them into a clear sheet protector, I use white board makers to write out their chores, this allows me to change them week to week. I think it's been so long since we've had the charts in place that I forgot how WONDERFUL they are to have. My kids were eager to get there chores done and to cross off each one. Kaleb even gets up early in the mornings so he can get most of them done before school. Realizing my kids are getting older, I decided to give them more responsibility by giving them bigger chores like dishes, taking out the trash, sweeping and mopping floors, laundry, scrubbing down bathrooms etc. This has not only been great for them, but for me as well, I'm able to accomplish more because I am sharing my responsibilities. I'm letting go of the notion that I have to do it all on my own.
I am finding that I have a little more me time in the mornings because I'm not stressing over getting as much work as I can done before they get home from school, I know that when they get home it will get done before dinner. The best part about this is I have been working side by side with them, no more yelling at them to get the chores done, they don't complain that it's to hard anymore because I work next to them help them when they think it is hard, show them the best way to do it, and encourage them when it isn't "mom perfect". I've actually really enjoyed my time with each kid, I'm much happier now and so are they.
Since we all work together the chores get done a lot faster, instead of taking 2 or 3 hours by myself it takes about an hr, we have so much more time to spend together as a family watching movies, riding bikes, walking etc. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I know some of you are probably saying "well du!", but like I said we had charts before and although they worked well they didn't work this well, I didn't feel the relief then that I do now. I know that my kids are capable of whatever I show them they are capable of, whatever I teach them they are capable of. It starts with something as simple as chores and grows from there, already my kids look at something that's hard and say well I did such and such a thing so I know I can do this, I just have to keep trying. They know that I will help them the best way I know how even if that means standing aside and letting them struggle a little. I am so proud of my kids and all that they do, I love them with all my heart. I am so blessed and proud to be their mom.
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