Work & Play

I haven’t been very good up until now about having the girls participate in household chores other than picking up their own toys, but I’m realizing that I lose an opportunity if I don’t teach them when they’re little and eager to help.  Eva is already to the point where she’s not always interested in helping me anymore, and it’s too much for me to try and keep up with three little mess-makers.  So now I’m doing my best to try and make the girls feel like important, contributing members of the family.   Though they’re still not good at folding, I’ve taught Eva and Amanda to put away their folded clothes in the right drawers.  I moved their plastic plates, bowls and cups to a bottom drawer so they can put away their own dishes from the dishwasher, or set their own place at the table.  They’re both learning how to sort the laundry into lights and darks, and put the hampers away.  I let Eva spoon tuna fish onto her own crackers, and proudly carry the finished plate to the table.  And I’m trying to remember to have them clean up their own spills and messes as much as they are able.  I have to be creative sometimes to think of ways they can help rather than just jump it and do it myself, but I trust that the effort will be worth it one day when they can be independent without mommy to play housemaid for them.