I have two children, boys aged 10.5 years and 8.75 years respectively. The decimals are important ... to them馃槃 and because of this, I am choosing in this ALIVE blog post to show them lols.
My children get pocket money once a week and they often ask if they can earn extra by doing additional chores etc around the house, and I am only too happy to reward this, but they also sometimes ask for extra money just for doing little things that I would expect them to do just because they are part of a family, and truth be told, because they are often the source or origin of the mess in the first place that is being required to be cleaned up 馃槀
So for these little extras that I may ask them to do, I will not pay them extra pocket money. These include things like putting their washed clothes back in the cupboards, clearing their own plates and mugs and sweet / crisp wrappers back to the kitchen after use, putting their toys/possessions away when they are done using them, eldest emptying out the recycling bin twice a week, and the occasional ask to sweep up some dirt that may have found its way into the kitchen or onto any of the downstairs hard floors. I say occasional as I only ask if I am inundated with chores myself at the time.
The point of today's post is to share something that my eldest said the other day. So, I had asked him to sweep the floor in the kitchen as I was otherwise engaged preparing for my sister and dad to come visit us for the weekend. He was semi-reluctant as only a 10.5 year old can be that would rather be playing Fortnite!馃ぃ But he obliged. Next thing I heard a commotion from the kitchen and the door between kitchen and lounge slams and my youngest comes scurrying out.
What's up bud? I asked.
Youngest replies, "Oli is being mean to me and won't let me in the kitchen."
So I say, "Well, Oli is trying to sweep up in there, just give him a minute." I carried on doing my thing and then I hear the commotion start up again, but this time the door is wide open and I hear everything 馃槀馃槀馃槀
"Jack!!! I told you already, get out!"
"Oli, stop being mean, I need to get a drink!"
"Jack, I am trying to clean up the kitchen. I'm trying to sweep and you keep coming in here, not looking where you are going and walking in my dirt!"
"Well, well, just hurry up then! Jack replies.
"No, I can't! I have to clean it properly and you are really starting to annoy me as you are making my job so much harder and I don't like having to keep doing it over and over because you keep messing it up."
Well, I was ROTFL馃槀馃槀馃槀 In that moment I felt ALIVE and it felt soooo good. I could see the generational wheel turning and it felt good that my son finally understood what it felt like to not be appreciated or understood for doing work around the house; to be taken for granted and to have the inconsiderate actions of others to deal with at the same time. He understood the value of his time and effort and hence that of mine. I trust it provided him with a lot of food for thought.
I felt that this post would fit nicely into Thoughtful daily Post and Alive Tribe. I am certainly grateful to be alive to see this day. Now, I wonder where Oli heard all that before? hee hee hee
Although none of what happened was planned, in retrospect I think it's a great learning experience and social experiment. If you want a real eye opener for all concerned, and you have more than one child, set your older child a task and then set the younger one on them at the same time to just be... well themselves lol .
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