Creative Parenting 101 – Change The Toilet Paper Roll!
I have to admit, sometimes I am not the most organized parent. I am more like a Mary in a Martha world.
I know parents who have kept sticker lined chore charts since their kids were potty training, or used Pintrest inspired jars to keep allowances in. The list goes on. But, inevitably our family’s stickers were used by someone to decorate the dog dish and the jars ended up being full of Lego pieces and marbles. Every time I saw something new I thought This might really work! but it never seemed to last more than a few days or weeks, let alone a full year.
I was frustrated, but more truthful, I felt like a failure. To my kids. My husband. Myself.
My only job was managing our home and taking care of our kids. If other moms could keep everything running smoothly, why couldn’t I?
I think that is the trap that moms walk into..the compare and contrast trap that leads to feeling inadequate and guilty. STOP. Stop now. If you can’t do it all, just pick ONE thing at a time to tackle. Get it down before trying to tackle more. Slow and steady wins the race and I will be the first to tell you that you will have to do plenty of “retraining” along the way. Don’t quit. Don’t give up.
Now that most of our kids have left the nest I want to take a moment to encourage young moms going through the Cheerio years.
Give yourself a break, get a little creative, and make sure you keep teaching your kids how to survive as adults when they leave your nest. It is a tough job, but you can do it! Be strong and courageous.
A few years ago I shot this little “Mom-fomercial” and posted it to my kids Facebook pages.
Just sayin’ it worked..for quite a while.
What is the most creative way you have taught your kids how to do chores?
I would love to hear about it!
When Moses addressed the Israelites, before passing the torch of leadership to Joshua, he knew they would be overwhelmed at the thought of their opposition. He made sure they knew they were not in the battle alone. You aren’t either.
The Lord knows our feeling of frustrations, whether it is overcoming giants or dealing with the monotonous daily chores, down to discarded toilet paper rolls.
“Be strong and courageous, Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
