For this reason, I am continually at war with "stuff" that is constantly trying to take over my house, and that is never capable of finding it's home inside our home!
Back to life skills..... In general, we are fairly relaxed in our home. We don't make our bed each morning. So, how can we ask our kids to make their bed each morning. In order to maintain a tidy looking home, we are now making our bed, most days! We never go to bed with a dirty kitchen, we work to have the dining room table; the hub of our life, clear before dinner. We are working, as a family, to get our space to function on a daily basis. It is mentally trying!!
This week I am moving on to the lists. I love lists, every part of me craves a list for almost everyday of my existence!
I have started with little cards stuck to the closet doors in my girls rooms. You can find the free printable here Printable Cards. It's working, for my little girl. She loves the idea of taking care of herself each morning. She's 5, she's at a good age. It's my big girl that is already in a habit, a bad habit, of getting up and needing to be reminded repeatedly, to get dressed, brush her teeth before school. She's 7, so after 3 years of school and of being reminded, she is not interested is creating a new routine at the moment.
It needs to change simply because I have 3 kids to get ready in the morning before I go to school. The big picture is that in 25 years, when she has her own home, I want her to have the skills, whether she chooses to use them or not, to maintain her home, her health, respect her family, friends and society in general.
I am that mom that refuses to wash the dishes of my teenage kids, I expect them to know how to change a tire, check the oil and washer fluid when they begin to drive, plan a menu, grocery shop and cook before they head to college because McDo is disgusting and expensive.
Simply, this is the basis of my job, the basis of my goals and dreams for my children, so it's about time. Here is an age appropriate lists, in my opinion, that I am going to begin with my kids. Don't take this list to seriously, freaking out when you read that my 3 year old sweeps the floor. He actually vacuums!! But honestly it's because he wants to distract me from vacuuming for the third time that week.
(**UPDATE - I have graduated, I think, from the school of Posting a Doc to a Blog. So the list is attached for you to print and share!)
Man, it looks easy on paper!!
Are our youth missing life skills? We rush around during our day, completing our tasks, but do we take a minute to explain to our children that when we pass a door, you hold the door for the next person and you always let your elders pass in front of you. Do we remind them not to interrupt a conversation. My children are important to me, my children should be heard, but they also need to respect others.
