Okay I have a confession to make, my daughter loves, I mean loves, to help me clean but.........most of the time I don't have the patience to let her help me. She'll actually throw a tantrum when we're done with a task if she wasn't ready for it to be over. It's fun to her, I guess I could learn a thing or too : )
This morning as she was eating breakfast, Ivy asked me if she could help with dishes. What she really said was, "Dishes?" with a huge smile on her face as she finished her cereal. Okay, couldn't say no, but I wasn't quite ready to finish up the breakfast dishes, so I let her get up and wipe her booster seat down, then we wiped the bottom portion of the high-chair, and of course she loved being my helper.
We moved on to the sink and I only had two things to wash, I was bracing for the tantrum, but she happily moved on to wiping the counters for me. As she was wiping the counters we were chatting and talking about how fun cleaning is. (I can imagine my mother laughing right now as she reads this, but for the record my bedroom is much cleaner now than it ever was at home)
Then I asked her, "Do you know what the best part about cleaning is?"
Ivy got the biggest smile on her face as she said "We clean for Daddy!"
I wasn't expecting her to get (essentially) the right answer. But I realized in that moment that even though she likes playing in the dish water, imitating mommy and playing with my water squirter, she actually gets it. She get's it as much as a 2 year old can, she understands why it's important to put so much effort into keeping our home clean, to be a blessing to our family.
I also realized the way her face lights up when she get's to be "Mommy's helper" is also very much because she wants to do something special for her daddy. She wants to show him love like Mommy does.
Lord, help us instill the importance of keeping a home in our children. Let them see the value and joy in our housework so that one day they may be a blessing to their families. Give us the patience needed to teach these important skills, and let us not forget the true reason we work in our homes, to bring honor and glory to You. Amen
Blessings!
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I loved this story! Ivy is a smart girl. Thank you so much for sharing a reminder of serving my family.
ReplyDeleteLovely story and a great habit you are instilling in your child.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet! It might take longer now, but in a few years, she'll save you LOTS of time when she can clean the whole kitchen by herself!
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