Heritage Makers Yearbook

Man, I guess I need to get on top of my housework. Yesterday, my four year old got so tired of the mess he decided to do something about it himself. He was dragging armfuls of clean laundry from the family room couch, up 2 flights of stairs and putting them away in his bedroom. He even put them in the correct drawers.

He was so proud of himself and excited. Before bed he helped me tidy his and Girly's room. He is very good at it and loves to work with Mommy and do things right. He told me that he wished he had cleaned his room before Daddy got home so that Daddy would have gone in there and said, "Who cleaned up this room?!" And then Daddy would have been so surprised when Monkey Boy said that he had done it, with Mommy.

Today he was very frustrated that his sister messed up their room. She kept taking stuff out and he kept putting it away and telling her how to put things back. I wonder if he will continue to be particular about tidiness as he gets older. Goodness knows it didn't last much past toddlerhood with his older brothers. I am lucky if I can wade through the chaos to their beds to kiss them goodnight, most nights.

I love preschoolers and their immense need to help. They love to be given little jobs, especially things they are not usually asked to do. Clean up their toys, maybe. But give them a broom and they are over the moon excited to work. Clear their plate, well okay. But come bake cookies with mom and then are jumping up and down.

Of course, even my ten year old wants to bake and cook. I really need to take the time to work with him in the kitchen, he is constantly asking to cook. If I let him help prepare the meals, I am sure it won't be long until he can at least start the meals on his own. Wouldn't that be nice!?

I tend to be a bit like my mom in that regard. She was a wonderful cook, but did not teach any of us girls how to cook. She just didn't have time. There were four of us kids and all the activities and running around that went with that. Plus by the time I was in junior high, she was working full time. The last thing she wanted to do at the end of the day was have one of us underfoot in the kitchen, slowing her down. I have to admit, that when I am in the kitchen it rarely occurs to me to ask one of the kids to come and help me. Especially when they are occupied somewhere and out of my hair.

But the kids have all this boundless energy and enthusiasm that I really should try to harness for good. Who knows, maybe my Superboy is the next Jaime Oliver?! Well, without the British accent.