Friday, May 6, 2011

More Than Just "Chores"

What comes to your mind when you think of the word "chores"?  Is it drudgery and dread?  Something to be hated?  Something to be avoided?  I have to admit sometimes this is my problem.  Okay, a lot of the time, really.  Growing up, I did have some chores.  I didn't even come close to learning all the aspects of home-keeping though.

Daily Chores
Daily Chores






I am working on a chore system right now.  I once had one.  3 of my children had little file boxes with index cards with their chores on them.  But I have not updated those cards for a couple of years.  Right now the chore "system" consists of me telling them what to do for every little thing I need them to help me with.  With 6 children (okay, not all of them doing chores yet), that is a lot of talking and repeating myself.  It is going to take a lot of work initially, but I am going to work hard to get a system together so everyone knows what they need to do every day.

I don't just want my children to have chores so that I have help around the house though.  I also want them to learn that work is a good thing.  I don't want them to think "drudgery" and "dread" when they hear that word, Chores.  I want them to realize that we were made for work (different kind of work for men and women), and that when we work, we bless other people.  When I work hard and maintain a clean home (note I did not say the unattainable "pristine", but clean) and an orderly home, that helps all of us.  It cuts down on our stress (we can find things easily), we have the comfort of beautiful surroundings, plus, we need a decent level of cleanliness for health purposes.  There are times when we won't have time to keep up as much with the house, but those times should be the rare occasions of illness and such.  I want our children to have servants' hearts towards chores...to work with the attitude of giving to others: those that live here as well as those that visit.  (Not because we're afraid of what they'll think!  But because we truly want them to be comfortable when they are here.)


And now, for a funny thing my kids do...

This is a picture of my 9 year old's (Cherished of God's) erm, peanut butter, shaped into a peanut.  You can't see it very well in the picture, but she also put a smiley face in her peanut butter.  She wanted me to take a picture of her "creation".  So, there you go.





I hope you have a blessed day.







Linked to Raising Homemakers

11 comments:

  1. Well said, Mrs Q!
    Children benefit greatly by having chores assigned to them according to their age and capability.
    So many valuable life-lessons are learned while helping out at home!
    Your daughter's smiley peanut is cute - kids create joy with such simple imaginations :-)
    blessings..Trish

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  2. Thanks so much Trish! They do benefit and there is a lot to learn, like you said.
    I love the children's imaginations. They are so creative and bless me with that.

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  3. Ha ha funny! Peanut butter shaped like a peanut. That's cute. :)

    I want the same thing for my children. I want them to see chores as a normal part of life. This is part of being a peacemaker too. I don't know about you but, I get so full of anxiety when the house is disorderly.

    Be very blessed this Mother's Day, Mrs. Q.♥

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  4. Michelle~that is good!

    Yes, me too, Mrs. A. I get anxiety when the house is disorderly too. Blessed Mother's Day to you as well <3

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  5. I just wanted to stop by and wish you a happy and blessed Mother's Day, Mrs. Q!!

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  6. LOVE this post! I wrote about chore also today, chores and distractions, and how to reach heart...this parenting this makes me learn so much!!!!

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  7. Thanks, Mrs. Stam! I read your post--great!

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  8. I, too, want my children to develop that "servant's heart" and appreciate that feeling of accomplishment they have when a job is completed and done well.

    Hope you have a nice day!

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  9. Thank you, Tracey and the same to you :)

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