Out of the mouths of babes #6
picture by jimmiehomeschoolmom
There is always some resistance but we have a Saturday morning clean-up ritual with the children.
This involves a bed making, floor-clearing, putting-away-fest that ends with an ‘inspection’ (all in fun - not exactly the white glove treatment) and a rating out of ten. Before the TV goes on, or any activities start for the day, we get it done and I think the routine is starting to pay big dividends, reducing the amount of clean up work I have to do in any given week.
This Saturday was no different and the kids got down to business without complaint. Except for Miss Four, who has spent the past few days in her new ballet uniform, twirling and jumping and demanding everyone’s rapt attention, or else!
Her resistance to helping out on a Saturday morning, or for that matter, shirking the dishwasher duties her three sibs attend to every day, has probably evolved from her being the youngest, and therefore, most indulged child in the family.
We say, “You’re four years old now, and you have learned from watching everyone else. Now it’s time to start helping out.” But we are met with silent resistance. And her stamina in the resistance department is only exceeded by her stamina in the screaming department - though we anticipate she’ll grow out of that one soon.
This morning, before the clean-up commenced, Miss Four put on a dance performance. “Dad,” she said, “I want to dance to some classical music.” We weren’t aware she knew what classical music was but at least we had something to appease her majesty. In the end, Miss Four put on a great show, dressed in a pink leotard and tutu. Ballet becomes her. And her big sister too. Heaven help us.
And so it was, just one hour later when Saturday clean-up was well underway and everyone was coaxing Miss Four to do her very best and help get things tidy, that our little primadonna declared,
“But Daddy, you know that I just don’t do work.”
February 6th, 2010 - Posted in gratitude, childhood, parenthood, play, ritual | |
2 Responses to ' Out of the mouths of babes #6 '
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on February 12th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Ha. I just don’t do work either. Unfortunately, I have to from time to time, so I don’t end up living in a brothel. Good luck with your Miss Independent.
on February 14th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Thanks Em, progress is slow.