I Have Learned

Today I have learned, I don't have to do it all by myself. I have children and they are very capable and very happy to help out around the house.

This morning I woke up and thought today I am going to help my kids know how to clean, and not just clean but to clean up after themselves.

I have already learned maybe 2 months ago that when you ask a child do to something you don't say, "hey honey, I need you to do the dishes." No, they will look into the kitchen and want to run, I can't say that I blame them because that is what I want to do every time I think about needing to clean the kitchen. Instead you say, "Hey kids, the dishes need to be washed, who wants to wash the... plates? cups? bowls? silverware? That way they see that there really is an end, and they get used to doing dishes without feeling like it is a horrible job. I am amazed at how they get so excited about picking what they want to wash. Emma usually picks the silverware, David likes the cups and Abby, she likes to do all of the dishes.

When it comes to the bathroom I ask, "What part of the bathroom do you want to clean? There's the toilet, bathtub, sink and mirror. They all get so excited to clean the bathroom. I remember the first time I asked them what they wanted to clean Emma quickly said, "the bathtub!!" David said, "the toilet!" Abby said, "the mirror!" And Jacob after he saw what was going on he helped everyone, and he did the sink. I was very excited to get them working on the bathroom the next week.

So today I have learned that the kids really like having check lists. I cut up some card stock this morning to make cards for each kid. Then I wrote what I wanted them to do before they could watch a movie.

Emma:

1. Make bed
2. Put chickens away (for some reason she thinks she needs to let them out?)
3. Clean room
4. Put lotion away and clean the spills (I asked her to do this 4 times yesterday, never got done!)
5. Put school bag away and anything else that is yours that is out
6. Brush hair

David:

1. Make bed
2. Rinse breakfast bowl
3. Clean room and desk
4. Practice spelling words/write 2 times (he couldn't find his spelling words so he did a math sheet instead. Poor kid really had a hard time with this.)

Abby:

1. Make bed
2. Clean room
3. Brush hair
4. Help fold towels

Jacob:

1. Get dressed
2. Clean room
3. Help mom make a smoothie

It was so funny, Emma kept coming up to me saying, "Mom, you better give me more things to do! I love this!!" David was frustrated with this. Abby was excited until she bumped her head on her bed and didn't want to continue. And Jacob kept saying, "I can't" but he continued to do what was asked of him.

Then came afternoon...

Emma:

1. Read, write down books that were read
2. dishes, silverware, 1/2 plates
3. bathroom, bathtub
4. clean bedroom
5. fold towels
6. collect chicken eggs

David:

1. Read
2. dishes, bowls, 1/2 plates
3. bathroom, toilet
4. clean bedroom
5. fold towels

Abby:

1. read
2. dishes, cups (she just couldn't help herself, she did more than 1/2 the plates)
3. bathroom, sink
4. fold towels

Jacob:

1. read
2. clean bedroom
3. fold towels
4. bathroom, mirror

I have found that doing this with them I am more happy with them. I am sad to say that lately I have been feeling so irritated with them, like they are just in the way. They are in the way because they have nothing to do and they really need instruction and limits. So, I am trying to be better, like I have said before, "If I am going to homeschool there are lots of things that need to change in my home before we can keep the kids home." I need to change my way of thinking. And we all need to help out as a family, so the ship can run smoothly. We will get there, we will.

Oh, and one more thing, I have an idea for a chore chart, I am hoping that when I see my stepfather next week that he will want to make it for me. Then I will post picture of what is made. Probably in the next month or two.