New and Improved Vacuum Game

I made an improvement to The Vacuum Game!
We had three guests this Labor Day weekend--such fun!--who departed Monday afternoon. It was late afternoon, the kids were being kind of wild from all the disruption to our routine, and I thought, do I dump them in front of TV to get them out of my hair? I'm so tired. But I rallied and suggested that we do our Afternoon Family Chore Time before I cooked dinner--let's go straighten the upstairs from having guests this weekend!

John: "Mama, can I try vacuuming?"

Mama realizes this is one of those moments! Grab it! "Well, honey, I don't know. Most children don't get to try vacuuming till they are five or even six years old. Do you think you can do it?"

John: "Yes! I know I can!"

Mama: "Okay . . . "

So we got out the vacuum and I gave him some tips. I held the cord and managed it for him while he did the vacuuming. He raced around picking up toys and vacuumed both children's bedrooms. Then he wrapped up the cord perfectly and parked the vacuum in the closet where it is stored. Then Mama lavished him with praise.

Oh--how I wish I had a camera to capture the look on his face! He was so proud, so pleased as punch, he was actually kicking the ground a little and looking down, shy, but with his face beaming. I've rarely seen him so proud of an accomplishment. It was absolutely precious! My mind raced to whenever we are next blessed with a pregnancy, God willing, and how now I will have a competent little helper whom I can ask to vacuum for me while I lay on the couch and feel wretched.

Not only did John vacuum, but my cheerful little helpers cleaned the upstairs bathroom to a shine, emptied the trash bin, stripped the guest sheets, and assisted me in putting clean sheets on the bed.

Also I tried one more adjustment: You see, I really dislike how after each meal, the family members scatter to the four winds, so I am left cleaning the whole kitchen while attempting to occupy the baby and supervise the children, who now are not even in the room: they're probably off in some other room, making messes and having fun. I don't like the message that it sends that Mama does all the food preparation labor and everyone else just shows up, then leaves, like this is a restaurant. I'm all for serving my family, but I suspect that the restaurant mentality that does not build the best of Christian characters. Last night after dinner, I enthusiastically told the kids that we were going to try something different: that if everyone helped me clean up, it would be done a lot faster. They're at an age of simply accepting most things, so it didn't occur to them to argue or realize they'd be playing less and working more. I had them clear the whole table (not just their own plates), then use wet wash clothes to wipe the table and booster seats. After the kids emptied the dishwasher of clean dishes, I washed dishes and swept the floor. They were done with their tasks sooner than was I, so I even had them wipe down the cupboards just to keep them in the room with me. The kids kept asking, "What's the next step, Mama?" They seemed thrilled to be useful members of the family. It was really neat for everybody!

Chris and I did a little parental scheming, in that I had Chris compliment me in front of the children for doing such a good job vacuuming and cleaning. Then I was able to reply, "Oh no, it wasn't me!" "Wasn't you? Who on earth could have cleaned the house?" Meanwhile John was in the corner of the room, grinning ear to ear as he listened, and Daddy got to pour praise on him for being such a Big Boy Helper.

(Lest you think everything is smooth sailing over here all the time, I'll just say that yesterday I also got to witness what damage can be done by a two-year-old who finds about 8 ounces of cooled but still-liquid fat--saved from cooking bacon--foolishly left out on the counter by Mama. Grease, grease, everywhere grease . . .)