Working Together
One of the things I had not anticipated enjoying as a mother is working with my children. I tend to feel this rush of enjoyment when we are outside, away from all things digital and electronic. It lends us time to talk, to laugh, to joke. What else is there to entertain us?
Last year, we had a monstorous garden. Each morning we would go outside around 7 am and weed for an hour. Or three. The younger ones would pull an occasional weed, and play in the dirt. We grew our vegetables together, and being in the dirt was joyful. Aside from the occasional whine.
The older kids begged to be "the chosen one". This is the person who was allowed back into the house and cook breakfast and get it on the table. It was gratifying, as a parent, to be able to see them learning so many things. How to care for the land, how to grow food, how to unplug from the electronics and enjoy being together as a family. Not to mention the fact that they can really whip up some great grits and eggs!
Memory often has a shimmery silver lining. I am sure that after a year, I am remembering very little of the tedium, and very much of the wonder.
This year, we have a new outdoor project.
We seem to have built our home on a gravel pit. The land is clear full of rocks. Altough they may shimmer and glisten in the infrequent rain, it is difficult to make them attractive most of the time. So this year, we will unplug. We will get up early to beat the summer heat. We will work to pull obnoxious weeds and pick up rocks in hopes of someday making a yard on this gravel pit.
It will have it's challenges. Sometimes, I have to let the little ones work within the scope of their interest:
Sometimes, I have to let them bring a radio onto the front porch and sing like crazy people for a minute, instead of working......
Sometimes, I need to praise my biggest boy yard helper for being tough and cool while his sisters perform and drive him crazy.......
And all of the time, I remind myself, it is not so much about getting the work done, It is about working together.
3 comments:
I love you, your kids, your blog, your yard work and your example. Thanks for being my big sister.
ditto.
You know, I've been thinking about this since I read it yesterday. I'm not so good at working with my kids, and maybe I need to figure out a way to get a little of that in....
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