I love this age. \u00c2\u00a0I say it a lot but it is so true. \u00c2\u00a0Chris and I have been very conscious about raising independent children. \u00c2\u00a0We did, after all, send them to Montessori school. \u00c2\u00a0And it is paying off.<\/p>\n
Now that they are older, we see them with other children more often. \u00c2\u00a0This has been especially true at camp since they are both at camps with children they often do not know. \u00c2\u00a0I was picking Brendan up recently and another parent asked me how it was that our pick up went so smooth. \u00c2\u00a0I was taken aback. \u00c2\u00a0I showed up at the time I told Brendan I would be there. \u00c2\u00a0I said it was time to go. \u00c2\u00a0I signed him out while he gathered his own stuff. \u00c2\u00a0Then we left.<\/p>\n
Shouldn’t it be that easy?<\/p>\n
I watched the boys\u00c2\u00a0look at Chris and me in London when kids their age were with grown ups who were doing things for them that we would never do. \u00c2\u00a0They were confused.<\/p>\n
We don’t have many rules. But if you are a member of our family, you contribute.<\/p>\n
I do the food shopping- the boys carry the bags in and put everything away.<\/p>\n
Chris does the dishes- they set, clear and clean up the table (and do this wherever they are, not just home).<\/p>\n
Chris does their laundry, I fold it. \u00c2\u00a0They put it away themselves.<\/p>\n
They are the ones going to (insert place- school, camp, etc)…. they can pack their own (insert what is needed- lunch, towel, script, goggles, sunscreen).<\/p>\n
They ask for snacks\u00c2\u00a0but expect\u00c2\u00a0to get it themselves. \u00c2\u00a0And they clean up after themselves.<\/p>\n
They know how to vacuum if asked and how to clean the bathroom. \u00c2\u00a0(God bless Chris for impressing on them from their potty training days to always put the seat down)<\/p>\n
They\u00c2\u00a0know where their\u00c2\u00a0clothes are, they pick out what they\u00c2\u00a0want. \u00c2\u00a0If there is something that needs to be changed we will let them\u00c2\u00a0know.<\/p>\n
We have taught them to tell time and continue to work on executive function skills. \u00c2\u00a0We impress upon them to be responsible, contributing good citizens. \u00c2\u00a0They respond (for the most part) respectfully. \u00c2\u00a0After all there are consequences for all actions (positive and negative). \u00c2\u00a0That has always been clear.<\/p>\n
Our family only works if everyone contributes. \u00c2\u00a0They don’t have allowances for doing the things that are their\u00c2\u00a0jobs. \u00c2\u00a0After all, we don’t get paid for doing what we need to do to make our family run. \u00c2\u00a0We are the adults\u00c2\u00a0and they are the children. \u00c2\u00a0But it is still a team.<\/p>\n
It doesn’t always work, and it has taken us nine and half years to get to this point but this is what works for us. \u00c2\u00a0Chris and I are continually evaluating what we are doing, the example we are setting and our expectations.<\/p>\n
When a pick up goes smoothly, or we leave on time and everyone has everything they need or Chris and I just sit and relax while the boys go through their nightly routine, we\u00c2\u00a0are grateful.<\/p>\n
I love that they are so independent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I love this age. \u00c2\u00a0I say it a lot but it is so true. \u00c2\u00a0Chris and I have been very conscious about raising independent children. \u00c2\u00a0We did, after all, send them to Montessori school. \u00c2\u00a0And it is paying off. Now … Continue reading