Josh put this in the laundry earlier this week and asked me to hand wash it. This is the 2nd one has purchased. The first one didn’t hold up to washing at all. So, this time we took it to Grandma Jean’s for reinforcement. The name and letters are iron on decals which she zigzagged around and that should keep it from peeling. We also decided it would be best to handwash so the decals don’t have to go through the wash cycle. (/p>
I’m thinking that my local friends may not know that my kids do quite a bit of their own laundry… yep… even Josh. My local homeschooling friends might assume this because I bet their kids have to do a lot of these types of things as well in order to give mom time to “school.” So, here is Josh handwashing his shirt because y’all know I don’t have time to handwash someone shirt!
I cleaned out the bathroom closet while he was washing the shirt incase he needed any help. He didn’t and now that I know he knows how to hand wash something I just might have him do a few more things.
Then, he put it over a towel to dry. This was all on Friday. It dried on Saturday. And, now it’s all clean and ready for him to wear today while watching the Super Bowl.
One time I told a friend something about chores and she was SURE that my kids worked too hard… hmmmm… hasn’t hurt any of them yet. Everyone around here has to work hard if they want me to have time to run them to all of the activities they always want to do. As hard as I try, I can’t be in more than one place at a time so that means they all have to help out around here. Basically, my motto is that I try to not do anything that someone else can do because there are a LOT more things that need to be done where I’m the only one that can do them. Actually, it’s not really “my” motto… I stole it from a much wiser homeschool mom a good 10 years ago when I was still trying to do ALL of the household chores and homeschool the girls. Then the boys came along and….
I’m continually thankful for having learned early on that homeschooling is a way of “life” not a job that mom does on top of keeping up a home. I don’t think we would have survived had I not realized it was ok to have the kids help keep up the home.
Dear Cindy, Of COURSE you don’t have time for handwashing clothes–you are taking the pictures of it, lol!!!
Seriously. I can’t think of a better way to teach kids responsibility and teamwork AND self esteem. My kids don’t do a lot of chores, but that’s MY fault. I have found when I do ask (plead) for help, not only do they do a great job, but they feel that they are more “necessary,” more worthwhile, more a part of OUR family. I need to keep working at this . . .
I so value the contributions of my children to our family. Thanks for the reminder. {wink}10 years? Wow – we’ve been homeschooling a long time….I need to add that up some time.
Kristine,
LOL….. yea time for picturing taking and passing all of these tets for things we get ourselves into (LOL)
DeEtta,
I can’t exactly remember how long we’ve known each other. Our oldest graduates this year and I know I was already homeschooling her when we met so I just roughly figured 10 years… give or take a few.
Looks like he did a good job on his shirt, he looks surprised that you were taking a picture of him washing his shirt. y kids often give me a look, like you need a picture of THIS? That is partly why I took pictures of Trevor when he was in the hospital and at doctors appointments. Otherwise he would have thought Mom was too worried to do normal things like photograph our lives. LOL
Cindy….
I think you must be right…10 years. Wow. Bre was 5th grader when we met. So what – 11? She’s 21 1/2 now….22 in a few months. I’m trying to quickly think how many years I’ve been homeschooling….of COURSE we started with Abeka k4 – years ago….if I’d known how many years I’d be teaching, maybe I wouldn’t have been so anxious to begin. ::snort:: Now I don’t begin school until they turn 6 – of course I’ve had a run of boys and they have other interests. I think I’ll start Zander at 5. We were still focused on speech with Nolan.
Ok….we started schooling the fall of 1989…I think this is my 18th year….I should find some photos of those early school years to post – now THOSE would be scary pictures. LOL Scary in the sense of big hair 80’s. LOL
Cynthia,
It’s wonderful that your kids have learned so many practical skills so young.
I’ve been teaching mine the same way. Grace really struggles with so many though and her ironing still looks worse after she’s finished, but the principle is that we are here to serve eachother in a family.
Jamie had a mother who did EVERYTHING for him even when he was grown up, so this was an adjustment for him, but he’s on board with the whole serving eachother thing too!
Dorothy
Your future daughter in law will thank you some day that you are teaching your young man how to handwash 🙂
Jodi,
I don’t think he was particularly pleased to having a pic of him washing clothes… but they are getting used to it. It’s all for the “blog” you know….. but SOME DAY they’ll have quite a nice record of our daily life.
Dorothy,
Yes, a big part of it is serving each other. Mom can’t do it all.. especially a home schooling mom!
Emily,
Hopefully I’ll have raised a well rounded young man who will be a blessing to his homeschooling (LOL) wife some day!
Emily,
Hopefully I’ll have raised a well rounded young man who will be a blessing to his homeschooling (LOL) wife some day!
