Life Lessons

 

 

Sometimes, okay more than that. My kids whine about chores and other things asked of them. Sound familiar? Do you remember what it was like to be little?  Your roof comes without a payment, your food appears on the table 3 times a day and more. Your clothes are bought by your parents and washed by them too. Vacations make for great memories, but you went with no real understanding of your parents sacrifice to get you there knowing the time and memories are important. My kids have been super bugged by their required chores lately and super whiny about the food served. I got tired of hearing it and reverted to what I deemed "The Parable of the Spoons" I think it was borne of part exhaustion and part inspiration. Desperation may also have fit the bill. One day Carter was being particularly difficult. He was fighting his chores at every turn. When I was at my wits end. Not sure at all where that saying came from, but we have all been there. I remembered Carter is a visual learner so I got out all my spoons and sat him and his sisters down at the kitchen table. I held up a spoon and asked them to tell one thing for each spoon that their parents or others do or provide for them. The list is usually rather extensive. I let them lead and give gentle hints when needed.  When I think we have enough to prove a point I then start a new pile of spoons asking them what is required of them.

 

For example:

What others do for them,

 

food

clothes,

rides to school,

laundry,

putting up with whining,

vacation,

meals when Mom is sick

Nutella

house

doctor appts

bikes

toys

movies

 

What is required of them,

chores

listening to Mom and Dad,

washing the table

picking up our toys

not fighting

 

you get the gist of what my kids come up with.

 

I then take over and compare of few of the things and we talk about what it means to be a family and how we all have a part, a responsibility to do our share. I talk how and as we get older we contribute more spoons. More is required of us and not only at home, but that we need to give back to those who do for us. Nothing too spectacular, just a visual, easy, at their level way to help them hopefully understand a smidgen of why things are the way they are and that they are not picked on by being asked to do their share of work.  I have done this a handful of times and my kids respond well. They do things when asked. They will go out of their way to help a sibling. It's no magic pill. The pixie dust wares off, and sometimes all it takes is me saying, " I guess it's time for the parable of the spoons again!" I get a lot of No's screamed at me and they cooperate better and then today happened and I pulled out the spoons and more... Chore time was complaint free for the rest of the morning. Sometimes all it takes is a little reminder of how good we really have it.