Thursday, September 11, 2008

Day 60

Sorry you didn't hear from me yesterday, Ron and I are leaving today for a wedding up north and with organizing the up-coming women's retreat and getting the house ready for Community group tonight, I've just been buried! So...not so much a P31 women, but I learning to get more organized!! LOL

I loved today's lesson!!! We all serve God and each other!! When I was growing up I was the youngest of three kids and the only girl. Made for a perfect "Princess-in-the-making", which wasn't all bad but when I got married I didn't know too much about running a household. Now don't get me wrong I was taught to cook and clean, but I was never expected to do my own laundry, pay my own car insurance or make my bed. Please understand I had great, loving and Godly parents, I just led a very pampered (not to be confused with rich) life where I was clearly sheltered from the responsibilities of everyday reality.

So all that to say, when I had kids of my own, even though they were boys, I was determined that when they got married or one day left the house, they would be responsible adults who know how to cook, clean and heavens, do their own laundry.

Now our boys are grown and I'm happy to say this is the case. I cannot tell you the joy I get every time my daughter-in-law tells me I "raised him (Devon) right". There are time when I truly think my parents did me a disservice (even though they meant well at the time)and these are issues that I have dealt with (along with a very loving and patience husband) over the years. Trust me when I say you are doing your kids and their future spouses no favors by pampering them.

Today's Tip~

10 Minute Clean-up!

This works even if you don't have kids yet (husbands need to be trained too). Call the family together and set the timer. Tell them they have 10 minutes to get as much stuff put away as possible. Or assign jobs, one can vacuum, one can take out all the trash and another can load/unload the dishwasher. It's amazing what can be done in 10 minutes when you all work together!!! It's even kinda fun!!!

I'm afraid you won't hear from tomorrow since we are leaving in couple of hours and I won't have access to a computer, but know that I will be reading the lessons and will be thinking about you!
Nola
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2 comments:

Missy Crawford said...

Growing up, my parents had a routine for me when I got home everyday from school and I HATED it! I put my backpack on the table, changed into house clothes (yes, my parents were crazy about keeping nice clothes), do my homework, then the housework, and THEN I could go out and play with friends or watch TV. How annoying when you're 6!!! But, looking back on it, it was such a good way to set me up for life b/c now I know time management, scheduling, and I know how to clean a house!!! It's true what you say, Nola...no pampering = clean house. haha! Word to the wise...don't treat girls different from boys when it comes to sharing housework...my brother can't clean worth anything and I fear for his future wife!!!

9/12/08, 4:22 PM
Vera said...

I could do a better job of getting my kids to clean after themselves. My own mom would yell at me while she cleaned my messes, so I got used to tuning her out. It was not good when I had to clean my own messes, with no one there to do it for me.

Cooking was another thing. My mom's a gourmet cook, and she and my mother-in-law both were such perfectionists that it frustrated me to try and do it like they did. It wasn't fun to do it, so I'd give up. I was too stressed out to enjoy the final result.

I am now a very "casual cook" and have passed that along to my kids. Cooking needn't be an Olympic event. Perfection only plays a part when it's a matter of keeping the food clean and freshly-prepared. Who cares how the celery is diced? (my mom-in-law sure cared!).

I like the idea of the 10 minute rule. I was trying for 30 minutes, but after 10 minutes, it's likely you'll keep going anyhow. And I think it's an easier sell for the kids. It's 10 minutes max before my daughter gets a text message from her new guy friend. I can work with her in 10 minute chunks!

Nola, have a safe trip and enjoy your time in Vegas! We are in Central CA for our first h.s. football game (we won, 59-20) and it's the start of a very busy but fun season for us. Gary's gone to the store to get fixin's for chili-cheese omelets for breakfast. Yum!

9/13/08, 9:52 AM

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