Today Monkey "helped" me fold diapers, and other chores. Monkey is my youngest and is now 11 months. My oldest is 19. I've always cleaned with the kids. It is extra work, like two steps forward, one step back. But if you ignore that it's kind of fun. A mobile baby will find great joy in "helping". And even though it is extra work it is worth it. Very soon I will begin teaching Monkey to put a clean and folded diaper into the diaper bin, socks in the drawer etc. When he has had enough, I'll let him play. The diapers won't likely be folded by the time Monkey gets them in the bin. But that's OK. He will slowly be learning to do chores. In our house the rule is: if one is cleaning, everyone is cleaning. The only way out of that is if your outside playing.
My oldest kids never complained and I think its cuz we all worked together. Also they all know how to look after a house, cook a meal etc. My 19 & 14 yrs old also know how to do grocery
shopping, make a shopping list and pay bills. They are competent young Women.
I had a proud moment last month. My 14 yrs olds math teacher was impressed that she could add up a grocery list and add the tax in her head. He asked how she learned to do that. She said "well I do go shopping". The teacher told her lots of people go shopping without that skill, so she told him I taught her. He was impressed.
I love having fluff folded and organized a certain way. And I've enjoyed doing that these past 11 months. But now the time has come to let go of the particularities we moms each have over certain things and let Monkey slowly lean in a relaxed environment.
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