Do you remember mowing the lawn as a kid?

I certainly do…I thought it was fun.  It was hard work, but there was such a sense of accomplishment that came from seeing those lawn mower lines.

My tween is now 7 1/2 and just mowed the lawn for the first time.  My husband does most of the outside work, so I never even thought about letting Lincoln give it a try.  I was inside making dinner and stepped outside to check on things…this is what I saw.  My tween, cutting the grass for the first time.  It shocked me a little to think that he was old enough for that responsibility.  Man, he has grown up so fast.

Sometimes, as I drive around, I see teenagers cutting the lawn and listening to their ipods.  It makes me so happy to see that…!  I think it is important for kids to pull their weight in the home.  I have slacked in this area lately and it is something I am working on doing a better job with my kiddos.

Now my tween is officially old enough to cut the lawn…is it also time to step up his responsibilities a little bit more?  Should I start teaching him to do his own laundry and be responsible for making dinner for the family?  Maybe I should…!!  As a parent, we want to raise independent children who can function on their own in society as responsible adults.

Maybe the time has come…today he is cutting the lawn and tomorrow…he will be heading off to college (kidding)…..they just grow up to darn fast!!!

What are some of the chores you have your tween doing?

I know that laundry is something that everyone has to do.  I know that it is the frustration of many mothers……and I KNOW MY COUCH GROWS LAUNDRY!!  I used to think that I just couldn’t keep up with it…then I got smart and figured it out.  It is not my fault that I can’t keep up with the laundry.  It is most definitely my couch’s fault.

In all seriousness, I struggle with keeping up my laundry.  Especially in the summer months when we play in the water all the time and go through a few outfits a day.  Laundry is hard for me.  Yet, it is a big part of Motherhood.

Here are  few tricks I have learned in my almost eight years of Motherhood:

-  Once it is folded, put it away ASAP…otherwise, clean laundry will turn into dirty laundry and it will be like it was never done!!

-  Do laundry OFTEN, even every day…a load a day keeps the couch growing laundry away.

-  Have your children put their clothes in the dirty hamper when they are done.  Have them hang their wet towels up when they are finished drying off.

-  Teach children how to fold laundry.  It may not be done just the way you want it, but it will get done quicker and you are teaching them valuable tools at the same time.

Laundry is and will always be one of my least favorite things to do.  But I will keep trucking along and try to master it…some way, some how!!

What are some tips and tricks you have learned to staying on top of your laundry?

I have a bit of a relationship with organization.  Organization makes my life happy and running smoothly.  I notice the same thing with my tween.  When his room isn’t organized, he feels a bit lost and doesn’t spend much time there.

On a recent trip to Barnes and Noble, I was thrilled beyond words for find one of my favorite childhood books, The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room.  I remember reading this as a young girl and LOVING it.  I loved watching how their room went from utter chaos to a happy little organized haven.

Recently, we did this same thing in our house.  Toys and books were coming out our ears and were making me a CrAzY Mom!  So I took charge, moved beds around, put up a large shelf and got the kids stuff organized.  I bought inexpensive boxes from ikea and large silver tubs from Lowes.  Each toy has a home somewhere.  I labeled all the boxes and we know exactly what goes in each box.

For example, we have;

- Barbies

- Tinkerbell Toys

- Transformer’s and Star Wars

- Princess Castle toys

- Little Pet Shop and My Little Pony

- CD’s

- Cars

- Nerf Gun’s

- Games

- Puzzles

……and the list goes on.  It is so easy to clean and it is easy for my kids to get all the toys in their proper location.  I know that they are happier AND I am happier.

I think one of the reason’s that having kids has been hard for me is because I can’t always be in control.  There will be messes and there will be dis-organization.  During these times I simply must take lots of deep breaths and enjoy the moments and know that there will be a nap-time in the near future for me to get things organized again.  It is always a process with kids!!

What are some of the ways you keep your tween organized?

In 2006 my first (and our first family) dog Belle, passed away. The boys were only 18 months and three years old and we made a decision to wait awhile before we added another pet to our family. Well, we lasted two months and we adopted Apple. She was a year and a half old, had been found pregnant as a stray. Her puppies were all gone and after some rest with her foster family, we brought her home. 

Our Apple

The boys were young and we did not expect much out of them with her. We figured they would play with her a little, but we weren’t going to make a 4-year-old clean up the yard or a 2-year-old fill the water dish. Now that the boys are older, it is a different story. At this point we expect them to understand what it means to have a pet. 

At six and seven we understand that Kerry and I are really still the ones Apple needs to count on. At the same time, we see the boys show more interest in tossing the ball for Apple in the yard or holding the leash on a walk. We try to help them understand that she relies on us to feed her, keep her yard clean and help her stay healthy by exercising. In the past, it was always Kerry and I out there playing with her or getting her a treat for good behavior. Now we try to involve the boys as much as we can. 

Some people are cat people…some like reptiles….we are a dog family. I know we will always have a four legged friend running around our house so the boys need to be part of all aspects of having that pal in their lives. I am just glad that one day soon we will move on to having them pick up after her in the yard.  

Do you involve your tweens in taking care of your family pets?

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?