Apparently, almost-five is the age at which I can start getting some use out of these freeloading children of mine.
Specifically . . .
Any kid that will fill the wood carrier inside for me is a keeper.
When Cubby first announced that he would take care of bringing the wood in, A. was all, "Yeah, sure, you go ahead and do that," all the while expecting to go outside and get the wood when Cubby inevitably came inside complaining of how heavy the wood is and how high the side of the outside woodbox is, and how he couldn't do it.
Instead, Cubby went out, scaled the side of the woodbox, tossed out a piece of wood, picked it up, opened the door, carried it inside, and dropped it into the wood carrier next to the stove. Then he did it again and again, until there was enough wood inside.
Well then. I guess we underestimated the boy.
Maybe I can teach him to do all the vacuuming next . . .
Speaking as a (former?) boy myself, I can assure you that the more mess a chore inevitably generates, the better the chance he'll do it. Tracking slush and sawdust through the house? I'll get right on it, Mom. Clean up the slush and sawdust? Umm ... I think it's lunch time.
ReplyDeleteThat's a smart boy you are raising there! Has it REALLY been five years?
ReplyDeleteWhat a hardy child!
ReplyDeleteNow he needs a set of little gloves to take on this job.
ReplyDeleteWait until Cubby figures out that it's more efficient to climb in the wood box once and throw out all the chunks of wood, rather than make multiple trips scaling the side of the box. Kids learn so many skills when parents stand back and let them.
ReplyDeleteDrew: Yeah, especially because all the messy chores are the ones Daddy does. And it's really the Daddy connection that interests him.
ReplyDeleteSherry: Yup, fifth birthday coming up in two and a half weeks.
Anon.: He has some work gloves, but Daddy doesn't wear work gloves when he fills the wood carrier, so . . . see above.
Sheila: Let's see how long it takes him to figure that one out. But it's not as if he has a lack of energy that forces him to seek the most efficient way to do things.
Don't know if vacuuming is manly enough, especially after your comment to Drew. Now, if you could just get A. to vacuum, I'm thinking you might get some mileage there as well.
ReplyDeleteSince this helpful stage won't last forever, enjoy!
Ya know, if you ask A to "model some good behavior" for Cubby to pick up on, even if Cubby never picks it up you got some vacuuming out of A.
ReplyDeleteI'll go turn in my man card now.