Friday, April 20, 2012

Cracking the whip

Ok, so I'm taking a little break from my usual here and getting a little deep. 

 I'm talking about parenting and teaching my kiddos a very important lesson.  Jeremy and I decided at the beginning of the year to try to find a way to help our kids understand the value of hard work and basically to "un-spoil" them a bit. I want to raise responsible boys that are not afraid of a little hard work to get what and where they want.  In this day of instant gratification it is important to teach children that yes, good things do come to those who wait as long as they are willing to work for it!

 Let me tell you, this is not an easy process.  It takes time...a lot of it!  There have been times where I feel like I'm a broken record talking to the walls.  Although, so far, I'm happy to say we are seeing some positive changes.  We have been on a chore system for a while now and the boys are earning their own money.  The concept is still a work in progress, but when we went to Target yesterday, both boys were asking how much more they needed to earn in order to buy a few items.  I told them, and they were silent. 
 SILENT!
Miraculously, there was no begging, pleading, or tantrum throwing.  They are getting it!!!
After doing a little internal happy dance,  I also went a little deeper and thought about what just happened.  
I thought, hhhmmm... 
In teaching these little boys how to be good men, I have struggled to be patient. 
In teaching them, I've been working hard at being conscious of my decisions.  
Wow! In teaching them this whole working for what we want, I'm doing the same things they are!
It's SO much easier sometimes to give in and just buy whatever it is that will make them happy in the moment, but I also know the easiest path is not the best.  
Hard work does pay off.  
To show for it, I really do have some fantastic, sweet and caring little guys.

Here's these sweet little guys hard at work. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
***UPDATE*** 
Oh yes, they boys have been fighting over who gets to set the table and who gets to do the dishes. 
 Not in the way you may think though. They both WANT to do the dishes! So much that Aaron actually asked me to make sure the pots and pans were really dirty for him since it was his night to do the dishes. Ha! 
I simply had to document that one, because when I was growing up, it was the exact opposite for sure!

1 comment:

  1. You are such amazing parents. I am amazed at how great you really are!!!

    ReplyDelete