Jan 08 2009
Socks in the shower
As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog entry, Tim and I are working on teaching our kids about responsibility and independence. So far, it’s going really well. We are making progress in many areas and that thrills me!
After school yesterday Conner and Sofie helped me clean their rooms. Both of them are pack rats and want to hang on to every piece of paper they color on or write on. But these piles of papers just start overwhelming their small bedrooms. So after putting in some effort as a team their rooms look fabulous - and bigger too! Sofie and Conner both admitted that it felt really good to have clean rooms. This morning Sofie folded up her PJ’s in a neat little bundle and placed them on her bed next to her pillow so she can just grab them at bedtime tonight. She said she wanted to keep her room neat and decided to do that instead of just throwing them on the floor like she used to do. I was pleased beyond words.
I’m also working with Ian on this too. He knows where his shoes are supposed to be and is responsible for getting them before we leave the house and for putting them back when we get home. This morning he pulled his socks off when the kids started dressing for school. I asked him to go put them in the dirty clothes basket by the shower in mom and dad’s bathroom. He grabbed them and took off with a huge grin on his face. He came back still smiling. I asked him if he had put his socks in the dirty clothes and he enthusiastically replied, “YES!” I thanked him for his help.
A little while later, Sofie and I went to my bathroom to fix her hair. I was thanking her again for her help in keeping the house clean and told her that she was setting a good example for Ian who is trying to learn too. I told her that Ian put his socks in the dirty clothes basket. As I turned to point his socks out in the basket, I noticed that they weren’t there.
Ian suddenly walked in and I asked him where his socks were - he pointed to the shower. Sure enough - they were sitting in the middle of the shower. He was giggling so hard as he gathered them up and put them in the dirty clothes basket.
I guess we still have a way to go - but we are making progress - even if we have socks in the shower!
