My Newest Helper

My toddler two-years-and-four-months has lately started to really help with a few chores, not just "help" (read: get in the way). She desperately wants to empty the dishwasher, so her six-year-old brother has been training her (read: getting her to do some of his work) for a few months, I've noticed. Fine by me: as long as the work gets done!

This morning, Margaret was being such a sweet helper that I snapped a few pics.

Margaret emptied the entire dishwasher by herself, except for the few items that go into high cupboards. She was pleased as punch and even chased away her four-year-old sister when she came over to assist.

As a new parent, I was a little slow on the uptake about teaching children to help with domestic chores, but I think I'm fully "with the program" now. One can't be open to having babies as God is pleased to send them and hoping for more without having helpers. I couldn't possibly do all this work without daily help! The house was distressingly messy yesterday and there are only so many places I can be at once, so yesterday afternoon, I announced, "I am cooking dinner. John, you clean both bathrooms upstairs, Mary you clean the bathroom downstairs." Voila, four things got done at once, it was great. Four-year-olds and six-year-olds are surprisingly competent, especially when a mama lowers her standards from perfection.

Also (and most importantly) I don't want to create little ones with a false belief that it is their role only to be served. Despite my purposeful efforts, we battle that attitude enough--in children and in ourselves as adults! Just last night, one child was complaining and suggested that each person clear only his or her own plate--to each his own! every man for himself!--to which I suggested that I would relax more and let each person cook his or her own dinners. Strangely, no children thought that was a good idea.