Today, my girls realized that a certain part of their life has died. They mourned the age of little responsibility and letting mom do everything for them.
I put them to work helping me clean. We have done this before but for special occasions. This is the second time that I have recruited their help in less than two weeks and this time it was for no reason other than the house needed cleaned. Now instead of me helping them with all their tasks, they are helping me.
Wow, how much quicker we get things done around here! Initially I feel kind of guilty, but then think again. They have to learn sometime and I was cleaning toilets by the time I was 10 or 11. I hated it but never thought my mother was expecting too much from me.
Besides, I’ve noticed, when they put in time and effort, (blood, sweat and tears-lol!) they are a little quicker to respond when asked to help clean. They want to see the rooms that they have worked on stay that way just like I do.
Why I didn’t clue into this a long time ago, I do not know. But I can start no earlier than today. All of my yesterdays are gone. And there is no use whining over the past.
Yes, life as they know it has vanished. They will no longer see me do all the cleaning. They will be helping with the dusting, vacuuming, sink washing, toilet scrubbing and dishes from now on.
But not too many years from now, life will cycle again, and my daughters will arrive at the day when they will be teaching their daughters to clean. A certain part of my three daughter’s lives will have died once again. But this time, instead of mourning they will party!
3 comments:
If you have gotten your girls to clean up without moaning and groaning and whining and fussing, you, my dear, deserve a party!
You must share your secret, because in my house, it is much faster for ME to do the cleaning up, than for me to ask the boys to get it done (and do it right). Do you dangle carrots or do you crack the whip?
It has taken time and patience. Three months ago, I DID NOT see me at this point any time soon! I guess I do a little of both, carrot dangling and cracking the whip. Everything fun stops until the house is clean. I'm sure there will be groans again in the future though! Hang in there :)
Today we clean the house--gloomy or not!! You are so right--I can clean ours in about 1.5 hours with 2 willing (?) helpers!! And it's a lot more fun!!
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