Work.
Another one of those words that seems to have a bad rap in our culture.
We are primed from the time we are little to like play and hate work.
We live in a society that tells us that children shouldn’t have to work.
“Let them have their childhood,” well-meaning people say.
“Don’t make them do that. It’s not their job.”
Not their job.
The Little Farmhands LOVE washing windows!
If I have the attitude that some things are not my children’s job, how will I ever train them to have a good work ethic? How will I train them to jump in when they see something that needs to be done and just do it, even if it’s not their job?
There have been so many times when I have been exhausted or pregnant or just overwhelmed and have let the things that are my job slide. So many times Papa the Farmer has come home and mopped a floor, washed dishes or done something else that technically is supposed to be my job.
He was raised well. Although they weren’t rich, Papa the Farmer’s parents taught him and his sister to work. To look around and see what needs to be done and just do it.
I don’t want my daughter to marry a man who can’t work.
I don’t want my future daughters-in-law to be burned by a man who can’t work.
I don’t want my husband to have a wife who doesn’t work.
Painting is always fun!
Have I ever told you the story of how our farm got it’s name? It was one of the first days that Papa the Farmer was home after leaving his software job. We were all outside working together and frankly I was scared to death not knowing what the future held for us. Our children ranged in age from 1 to 5 and we were all outside “working.” Even at their young ages, they were putting sticks in the wheelbarrow and doing their best to pitch in. We had such a nice time working together that at the end of the afternoon I thought to myself, “Wow. These really are the days that we will look back on and say, “Those were the Good Old Days.”"
Teaching children to work helps them to know they are important to the family. It gives them a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
The best way to teach them is to set the example yourself, and join them in the task!
So, roll up those sleeves, Mama!
What are some ways that you encourage your children to enjoy work?
With varying degrees of success, it seems that just passing out the materials needed and getting started is the best encouragement. They all have chores they’re expected to do and they hate every one of them. But they all like the work we do together. They love helping with planting and building things. They enjoy the animal chores when we’re all out doing them. They seem to enjoy the bigger jobs of mopping, washing windows and such when we are all doing some deep cleaning of a room.
They all hate being told to pick up their clothes, take their dishes to the sink or clean their rooms, though.
As the oldest of 5 siblings I had to carry a very heavy load of responsibility on our Farm growing up. Some of my siblings resent me for that and some are glad I was there to take care of them. My parents were extremely hard workers and at the time i never knew how big of a struggle it was just to put food on the table. Looking back I am glad for the experience I had in learning to do something and do it to the best of my ability. That has filtered down to my children. I only ask them to do things on the farm or in the house that I know they can do. I don’t ask it to be done right the 1st time. When they can complete that task with enough proficiency then my husband and I decide what else should be added to their list of chores. Some of course are not fun. I don’t enjoy doing the dishes, but as my mom says if you do it with a happy heart you will be better rewarded in the end.
Growing up on our farm is a family affair if you want breakfast then you had better help gather the eggs the day before, or the basket will be empty. We have small incentive charts that also help with chores. Children need to be praised for their hard work and for learning a new task. The rewards are swimming party in the summer, special date nights out, and several other little things. We have boy/girl twins so trying to make it NOT into a competition is a challenge in it”s self.