Comments on: Giving Children Responsibility

By: Angel

Angel — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:08:00 +0000

Oh I will teach my girls to mow the lawn, interestingly enough last summer I mowed the Lawn. My niece Sydney was over, and Emily and Sydney laughed at me telling me how silly I was. My sister later told Sydney “Your aunt Angel mowed lawns long before Uncle Ben came along”. In our house the girls knew ow to do both, but somehow the art of laundry and dishes escaped the boys!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:03:04 +0000

Angel, You better teach the girls to mow the lawn too.
There are days when I wish I would have been taught those things.
I am such a pansy with the lawnmower.
I guess I’m doing ok with my boy. He unloads the dishwasher and sets the table. Not ready for him to do the laundry yet.
Some young lady will thank me one day.

By: Angel

Angel — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 20:56:32 +0000

If I ever have a boy, I will try my best to be equal in teaching him as much responsibility to mow the lawn, as to unload the dishwasher.;)

By: Shalom

Shalom — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 20:32:15 +0000

I liked this entry. I would also like to see little boys taught that they are equally responsible for household chores like cleaning out the dishwasher or setting the table, so that when they are older they don’t EXPECT that whomever they marry is now responsible for “girl chores” but they appreciate the help they now have to do laundry, cook, clean, etc. The guys should feel equally responsible for helping out, not feel that we are lucky they’ll get up from the game/xbox/computer to contribute. Women have a lot more on their plates than they use to as career mothers.
Plus, is there anything more attractive than a guy who drives a truck but can work a room with a vacuum without being tkept after when you’re getting ready for company? I’m going to give my boys an edge. Hm, mm, that’s right.

By: Angel

Angel — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 20:19:38 +0000

Stephanie, As far as the coats and things that have to be done as we are walking out the door, I totally relate. It is not so much a letting go thing, as a patience thing, in this case. It is hard as moms to be so busy sometimes we want to do it for them, because we can do it faster. It takes longer to let them do it themselves. I hate it, but I do have to slow down and let them do it for themselves. It helps to get them to start putting on their coats a few minutes before they actually have to have them on.

By: Stephanie derolus

Stephanie derolus — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:38:30 +0000

As I sit here to and read this. I have to laugh because our son and daughter want to do more. They want to put on jackets on by their selves, and other things too. It is hard as parents to let go. Because, we think that they cannot but they do surprise. So, we do encourage more now. And, praised them when they have accomplish their task.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:30:14 +0000

Responsibility is a key to a child feeling like they are a welcome member of the family. Every child’s level of responsibility is different even if they are close in age. I would expect my 9 year old to do certain things that I would not expect of my 7 year old even though the physical capability may be there. The emotional responsibility is not. Making your child responsible helps them to understand the natural consequences of not completing a task. Today, I truly wish, I had no responsibilities. But alas….I am a mom. Enough said.