Good Morning Girls!  So, how many of you have servant girls to plan daily work for?  Yeah, me neither.  But you know what most of us do have?......that's right......kids.  Young, energetic, carefree, capable kids!  The problem is, since birth we have done absolutely everything for our kids.  As they begin to grow and become capable of doing simple tasks, we don't always see it, and we continue to do everything for them.  We don't do it on purpose.  We don't think to ourselves "I am going to hold you back by getting you dressed everyday when I very well know you could do it by yourself".  More likely what has happened is we have simply developed habits that now come natural to us.  If you are not blessed with a "no...me do it" child, you may find that you are doing many things for your kids that they are very capable of doing for themselves.  When we miss these opportunities, we help create kids that grow accustomed to having even the simple things in life done for them.   Kids are also very capable at an early age to contribute to the family.  They can pick up their toys, make their bed, and put their shoes in the entryway closet.  Each child is different, but each child is capable of some small tasks.  When told to clean his room, Thomas, my 4 year old will inevitably say he needs help.  The response he gets from me is always "if you can take it out, you can put it back".  He will fight me on this 90% of the time.  Two weeks ago it took him 7 hours to do what he could do in 20 minutes.  He protested, cried, pouted, and even took a nap rather than clean his room.  However, when friends came over and he was told he couldn't play until he finished his room, he had it done in 15 minutes!  Don't fall for their sometimes very convincing theatrics, our kids are capable of much more than we often give them credit for.  I know it is often easier to do it ourselves.  I have to remind Charley every day, sometimes many times a day, to feed and water the dog.  It would be easier for me to do it myself.  I am often in the laundry room and look at the empty dishes and consider doing this simple task.  However, eventually, Charley will get it.  It will become part of her routine, and soon I won't have to remind her.  These simple things that take less time for us to "do ourselves" are important building blocks for our kids in developing their character.  It is important for them to feel they contribute(even when they don't want to).  It is important for them to see that it takes work, and teamwork to run a household and take care of a family.  It makes them feel like an important member of the family.  My kids have also learned that the more they help mom, the more time mom has to play games with them.  This is a reward they are willing to work for.  So Girls, we may not have servant girls, but we have kids.....so lets get delegating!

Proverbs 31:15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the days work for her servant girls

Love you all-
Jen