From some of my earlier posts you know I am a fan of vacations. I like to visit new places and get away from home when we can. Only three weeks out from school and I am already feeling the itch to go somewhere. This time, however, it is not just to get away. I am rewarding myself (and my lucky family) for the hours of work I will be putting in this summer. 

My reward!

I work every summer. I teach classes online and it usually keeps me busy mid June through mid August. This summer, the workload is at a higher level than usual and I made the decision to take some (most) of that hard earned cash and head to Universal for a week. I will have to take my laptop along and work while we are there, but with some time spent getting a little ahead before we go, I know I’ll have plenty of time to hit the pool and see the new Harry Potter attraction. 

I believe that hard work should be rewarded and I want to pass that on to Jake and Sam. That is why I am also making them “earn” their spot on the trip in little ways with an incentive system to bicker less with each other and keep the house a little extra neat before we go. I can only hope it continues once we get back too.  

Do you reward yourself for you hard work as a mom and employee? What do you like to do?

The old saying practice makes perfect may be true, but I prefer to think practice makes permanent.  I could practice all the time and I don’t think I could reach perfection.  I believe some skills become permanent with practice and then some people have natural talent and abilities.  In either case, perfection is something to strive for and not expect (especially with tweens or kids) 

This summer we had many options to choose from as far as activities and my daughter narrowed down a few things she would either like to try or to do.  She has had the opportunity of volunteering at a dance camp and last week was her dance camp she had elected for.  At the end of the week, they had a performance.  I was in awe as I realized how much her practice at home and camp had paid off. 

This whole concept made me think about how we teach learning.  If learning is made fun than practice doesn’t seem like such a chore.  I am learning as a parent to listen more to what my kids are saying and trust them.  They have opinions, interests and desires.  They know what they want.  When I allow them to be part of the decision process, they are much more cooperative than when I “force” them to participate or learn something new. 

My daughter repeatedly stated how hard the camp was for her, but how fun it was.  It was the fun that made her want to go back for another four hours the next day (that and it gave her a break from younger siblings.   So, I am realizing that as much as I may want her to start music, it may not be the time yet.  Besides, why put her into something that she would resent practicing and I would resent paying for?  My tween and I continue to not see eye to eye all the time, but I’m taking this all in stride as there are many positives of this. 

Have you ever felt like practice makes perfect?  Do you feel like the word perfect should be used with kids?  I don’t, what do you think?

My husband grew up on a small family farm.  He would wake up at five in the morning to pick corn with his siblings.  Needless to say, my husband knows how to work!

We surely don’t have acres of corn, but we have a small family garden in our yard.  Like anything, it is alot of work.  It is so fun to be working out there as a family.  Matt and I pull weeds while the kids help along side of us.  I have to remind my husband to keep it fun!  They get distracted and start tossing dirt balls to see who can throw them the furthest.  Then they get hot and go get water, then they are riding around on their scooters…..while we pull the weeds.

I truly don’t mind.  I love that they want to be out there with us.  I don’t want to be yelling at them to work.  I want it to be a fun memory filled with working together, sweating together, eating popsicles together and getting in water fights together.

Another aspect of our garden that I love is having the kids watch and help plant a seed and watching it grow.  It is quite amazing that you can plant a seed in the soil and carrots form, bright beautiful tomatoes start bursting from the vines and watermelons start as a tiny little ball.  It is a miraculous thing for a child to see.

Not only is our garden a source of family together time, hard work and feelings of accomplishment.  It brings us tasty cucumbers and crunchy peppers.  It teaches the kids that hard work brings a VERY positive result.

What are some things you do as a family that fosters family together time and hard work?

This is Jake’s third summer as a swimmer; Sam learned how to swim last summer. They had a wonderful teacher (Susan at JCC) and they both love time at the pool. For me, as a mom, there is no price to be put on the fact that I no longer need to tug them around in the water and I can feel OK if my eyes are off of them for more than five seconds while the life guards watch them. My question this summer is whether or not I should pay for the swim lessons they still want.

I know part of the reason they still want them is that they love Susan. She is a kindergarten teacher and her personality was a great fit for the boys. They never once complained about having to get up for lessons. I also know there is still a lot she can teach them. They can only get stronger and better, but that would come at a price and they don’t really NEED it..we all WANT it.

I still don’t know what I will do about signing up. The first session is already decided for us since it conflicts with tennis lessons, but after that…I will have to decide if it would be worth the cost. I suppose it is like so much else in life…you reach one goal and as soon as you get there….you start to look for a new one. They already learned how to swim…that was ALL I wanted….at least I thought it was.

Did your tweens take swim lessons after they learned to swim? What about swim team? A better option?

By the sweat of our brow we had blueberries to eat. 

The biblical passage came to mind as I took my children and friend blueberry picking last week with some friends.  The sun was hot and the blueberry fields were ready for picking.  My tween didn’t fully realize what I did.  For generations, farmers  tilled land and planted their crops to sustain their families.  The work was hard and hot and itcontinued until it was finished (not just the hour that we picked.)  Farmers and families continued the work by preserving the fruits of their labors to sustain their families through the winter months. 

I thought for sure my children would recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and enjoy those blueberries even more.  Nope.  It made me start to think if we are instilling a high enough work ethic.  Do they appreciate how blessed they are?  I then realized that perhaps this is why we should do more family projects and garden together.  It gives a sense of ownership and empowerment to the next generation.  It links us to the past.   It makes us humble and realize that things don’t just materialize but are worked for and earned. 

There is something about setting a goal and accomplishing it in life.  I know blueberry picking should be simple, but for me, it was more.  As I watched my children, I saw excitement, then boredom, then watched them be too hot to lift a finger.  I was surprised at how quickly those emotions came to fruition.  I think my baby had the most fun of all picking and eating and just getting right in.  Where do we lose the fascination for nature and science?

What are some things you do to foster a sense of work ethic?  Do you feel like children/tweens need reminders of where there possessions come from to keep it real?  Please share any thoughts about how you are teaching your children to appreciate the things we so freely take advantage of.