Life Skills

Last night before they got ready for bed, I told the girls to clean their bathroom. If only you knew how much toothpaste a 4 year old could use to paint a bathroom sink. I would take a picture of it for you but it could quite literally gross you out. It has my 6 year old.

One night she said "the bathroom is too messy for me to brush." She wasn't just trying to get out of it either. She seriously did not want to stand at that sink covered in Kids Crest! You may be thinking, "well you should keep your house clean." Are you thinking that? Trust me, my little Chelsea only needs 5 minutes to create a bathroom masterpiece.

Because of this, the rule is, Chelsea cleans the sink and counters and Madison cleans the mirror and the floor (pick up tissue and straighten the rugs).

Last night Chelsea did an exceptional job with the sink and counters. I mean they were sparkling. So afterwards, Madison goes in to do the floors as usual. I look up and she's headed back into the bathroom with the broom and dustpan. I've never asked her to sweep the floor. That's usually Daddy's job. LOL She did though. The bathroom was the cleanest it has ever been cleaned by them...ever...it actually looked like a job done by an adult. So we told Madison that she'd get money for doing such a great big girl job on the bathroom

Well, I think they are quick studies or something because tonight after dinner, Chelsea says, "Daddy, can I wash dishes?" LOL He says, "yes," so Mommy prepared the sinks and made dishwater. Madison, realizing what was going on, says to me, "Mom is there a chore that I can do?" I looked around and said, "sure you can put the rest of the laundry away." It dawns on me that she can rinse and stack the dishes as Chelsea washes so I set them both up.

Now, you might be saying. "awww." I almost did until I heard Madison saying to Chelsea, "We can keep doing more and more chores so we can get lots of money..." LOL To her credit though, the end of that statement was "...so we can buy our friends lots of Christmas presents!"

I'd say they are learning some pretty decent lessons. Responsibility and Charity. Not bad.

Then...nope, the story is not over yet, Madison comes into the living room where Dad and I are and says...

Her: "Are there any more dishes?" 
Me: "Here's a mug and saucer, throw the tea bags away. You guys are doing such a great job!"
Her: "We like being responsible!" {She did, she really said that}
Me: "Awe..."
Her: "We want to do all the things that you do for us"
Me: speechless and touched to the core and I say "I love you both sooooo much"

The finished dishes!

What a sweet thing for a Mother to hear. And her heart was so pure when she said it. Mothers may have the hardest job in the world but I believe that we are some of the most blessed individuals in the world. What those little souls give back to you when you least expect is worth the whole trip of motherhood. Am I right?

Wordless Wednesday

Linked up at Momma to 4 Blessings!

What do you do when...

Any moms out there ever been in a position with your back against the wall? What do you when you feel that pressure? When you feel like you've been guided along in a particular direction and maybe at first you didn't perceive the ultimate intent or the final outcome.

 Now I know none of us are psychics...well, maybe some of you are, I am not. However I do believe that as women we have a certain intuition. We know that to be true when it comes to becoming a Mom. How else do you explain being able to care for another individual from birth to adulthood? That is one amazing feat. Is it not?

I think that we are intuitive individuals by nature. I believe that God put that in us with purpose. I think that it helps to guide us and our families. Helps us to be able to help our husbands according to scripture. But every now and then, I look up only to find myself in a situation that I might have avoided altogether had my perception been a little more keen. What do you do in particular situation when something that you're asked to do goes against who you are? And not in the most overt of ways but in the subtle, this-wont-hurt-anyone-kind-of-way? Do you know what I mean?

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This particular thing you're asked to do doesn't even qualify as a sin. It's just a course of action that, at the end of the day, may be how this friend or that friend conduct themselves with total "peace" but for you, it's just a little bit different than that.

 I've found myself in this position twice within a month's time. Now the first time, caught between this proverbial rock and a hard place, I phoned a friend. LOL! Literally called a friend up and asked 'what would you do?' She fired back with some thought provoking questions which is what I think any level-headed person would do. She didn't lead me one way or the other. In this particular situation, I decided to do what was asked of me but under certain terms. Still though, ultimately, it was against who I consider myself to be at heart.

Tonight though, tonight, I just couldn't. This is a completely different situation with completely different people (people I love though). And things were done or said that I just couldn't allow myself to succumb to. Again, not sinful, just a matter of principle if you will.

I know these "crossroads" come up in all of our lives at one point or another. What do you do when it comes up in your life? Do you handle all situations the same? Do you take a case by case approach?

 I have found that since I've been married, I have become more of a 'grey areas' type person. Before marriage, I was as 'black and white' as they come, all or nothing, no grey!

 I don't find it so surprising that I handled both situations completely different because of my 'grey' approach to things now but I do find that at my core, I am still as principled in my beliefs as I was before marriage. However, I take a little time to think I guess...I don't know.

 What about you? What do you do when...