“As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise.” Elder Richard G. Scott.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

I don't want my kids to work for it

This may sound diffrent than what the title is. Actually, I think quite diffrently than the title. It is a saying I hear all the time when I am out and about and it drives me CRAZY! Really, should kids not have to work for it anymore? SHould they really have everything handed to them on a silver platter? No, is MY opinion.

I remember being a kid and working for my wants. My needs were provided for, and if there were extra's that I wanted, I earned them. I think I was 8 years old when I started doing extra jobs. I didnt mind it. There were 7 kids in our family. We as kids made sacrifices. I remember when I got my first pair of acid washed jeans. I earned the money for them and let me tell you, I really took care of them! I loved them. It started a trend. I took care of what I earned.

I was 10 when I got a paper route and 14 when I started working at Dairy Queen. I had to work hard to just get the job. I went in every day for 3 weeks to let the boss know I wanted the job and was really happy when I got it. It paid, $4.25/hour. I was stoked! It was nice to be able to earn my wants.

It drives me crazy when I am out and I hear parents say, "I just don't want my kids to have to work for it." Have I done it ever, unfortunately yes. I don't think kids have to work for everything, but I do think they should have to work for more than they do.

We have recently started having the kids help with dinners. They each have to plan 1 meal/week, write out what ingredients they will need on the shopping list, and do the prep for their dinner. It has to be healthy, have a protein, carb, vegetables, they have to help make it and they are allowed to make 1 dessert/month. I am not a big dessert girl (I know, it does not seem that way just by looking at me), but I really wanted them to learn a few things. I really wanted them to know how to cook. I wanted them to have more responsibility. I wanted them to realized supper does not magically appear on the dinner table each night. It helps them with their reading/spelling and their math skills. We are still very much in the honeymoon phase of this, but it works not too bad. It gives me mommy/child time that I have felt likeI am missing with them. It gives us time to talk and bond.

I have been trying to find morethings for them to do, to make them work more. I do not think they have to work for it ALL, but I do think they have gotten a bit spoiled and I want them to learn life is not handed to them on a silver platter. I love them to bits and pieces, and because I love them so much, I am willing to do this. It will not be easy, but i know it's worth it. THEY are worth it.

3 comments:

Krystal G said...

that's great of you Jocelyn! im sure in the future ur kids and there spouses will appreciate this very much. and i agree, too many parents are handing there kids everything on a silver platter.

JRoberts said...

I totally agree. I think that learning how to work is one of the greatest things we can teach our children. If we do not teach them we are doing them a disservice, I honestly believe that.

What will we do when we raise a generation of kids that don't work...? We will all be in such a huge bunch of trouble.

Jocelyn said...

I am glad to have some agreers. I have been just giving my kids way too much and realized how much they expected it. Not as much assome parents, but wanted to nip it in the bud before it got really bad. If you have any tips or help, I am always looking for ideas. I think about every 2-3 weeks, we are going to make bigger changes. kind of when they get used to the new rule, we will add another one.