I'm sure that once my kids grow up, they will look forward to the day that they don't have to bring the garbage cans down our 7-mile driveway. (Ok... it's not QUITE 7 miles--but try hauling full trash cans up it and it will SEEM that long) Or, at least Addison might get a pass but, Jonathan, my son, you'll be taking out the trash for the rest of your life so embrace it.
It's funny to me that the kids get such a kick out of doing such a mundane task. I mean, I've driven past the empty garbage cans left upside from the Garbage Men Sanitation Engineers, for 2 days before making asking the kids bring them down the driveway to the house. Addison keeps telling me what a big girl she is and refused all help with the can (until she tipped it over and couldn't right it, so then and only then was Mommy allowed to exit the van and help her). All the while, Mommy had to drive slowly down the driveway behind them, pretending the hit the gas (in neutral) because that's what Daddy does and it makes them scream in fake-horror.
But what I love seeing the most is not the independence, but the camaraderie. Big helping little. Jonathan, who was a complete and utter turd,for lack of a better word, tonight, was as sweet as honey helping his little sister to complete her task--encouraging her all the way that she could do it and and "just a little bit farther". I hope that he is learning that from me--I like to think so, but there are days when I shudder at what they see when I'm not being my best. I love that Steven Curtis Chapman song that tells us to do everything we do to the glory of the One who made you and that everything we do matters as long as we do that. Even taking out (or in) the garbage cans...
No comments:
Post a Comment