Earning Their Keep

They’re weeding.  Alex is weeding the asparagus bed and Julia’s weeding around the garlic.

Yeah, we don’t believe in all that namby-pamby feeding the children because we brought them into the world and we’re responsible for them garbage.

They’re out of kindergarten, they’re out of diapers.

They’re old enough to get out there and work.

Here’s Alex shredding newspapers to use as mulch around the strawberry plants.

And Julia made this rock garden underneath the vent opening from the basement. 

She takes pride in her work.

Alex, stuck in the hot sun running the shredder, felt he got the raw end of the deal.

But it all evened out.

The next day Julia had to scrub the deck.

I’m thinking we might need the driveway re-paved next….   

Comments

[judith]

Ahhh, it's not going to kill them. Just keep reminding them that they are in training for when you get that farm and they have to milk the cows and slop the hogs and feed the chickens and gather the eggs all before breakfast.

[Cas]

I had chores growing up. As a result I know how to keep house. I was never lazy growing up. Didnt play video games or watch tv very often(my choice) Lots of my friends got to sit around on their well rear ends.... and guess what. Most of them are still sitting around on their rear ends. They ask how I get so much stuff done. I am a stay at home Mom. Both my little guys are under 2 years old. I garden...put up vegetables and make jam....and just generally keep house and home going...prefering to make most of our food homemade. My answer is I learned at a young age what work and responsibility was..and it just stayed with me. I take pride in it. So you can bet when mine are old enough for chores...they will have them. Its good for them.

[KC]

We didn't have a deck when I was growing up, but if we had, I think scrubbing it might have been a favorite chore. It looks fun to me. (I fully cop to the fact I'm a little strange)