I can not tell you how thankful I am to have such grown up kids who are so willing to help.
Since we were sick last week, we got pretty behind on day-to-day tasks, plus we have several projects we’d like to finish before our company comes on Wednesday night.
As our strength has slowly come back and we are getting back to normal (whatever the “Coppinger normal” is) – the to-do lists are being made and we are on a mission. The house is being whipped into shape, and so far, I haven’t heard anything but a willing, “Okay, Mom” as I’ve handed out jobs. (Oh if they would always obey without arguing…)
If you have a household of little ones right now, I really want to encourage you to take heart! As they get older, and if you work with them now to train them to be helpers, you will be amazed at the work load they can take on once they are a little older.
They may not always see what needs to be done and do it without asking (says the lady who lives with four male children who will forever and a day step over piles of laundry without ever once thinking about the fact that the clothes may be theirs and that they should pick them up and put them away for Pete’s sake). And the cleaning may not always be done the exact way I would like it to be done. But wow, can they tackle a job and take a load off my shoulders when asked!
Here are the cookies Malachi and I worked on together while the older boys were working on upstairs projects. (Yay! The summer/winter clothes are finally sorted and put away!) While Malachi cut cookie dough into pumpkins, apples, and leaves, I worked on Lasagna Casseroles. Hooray for multi-tasking!
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I am SO looking forward to this!! I know my mom really appreciated the work we did for her, and now I totally understand why!
It really is nice when they arrive at those “magical ages”, isn’t it? Praises for your wonderful helpers!
You’re telling me that someday, I won’t have 3 jackets, 3 pairs of shoes, 3 hats, and 3 seat belts to attach before I can leave?! I will then be the queen of efficiency and arriving on time!
Yep, some day all you’ll have to do is say, “Go get in the car”. :) However, I can’t promise that you’ll always be on time. I still struggle with that, simply because now that they are older, they have things on their own agenda now and it’s still hard to get out the door on time!
That is certainly something to look forward to. My toddler already cleans up his toys when I tell him it’s time to leave. That moment will arrive sooner than I think possible!
Oh, and do you know your Myers-Briggs personality type? This post makes you sound like a Fieldmarshall – an ENTJ, perhaps?
Hmm, no idea. I have taken that test before but it’s been years and I can’t remember “what” I am. :)
We are in the process of moving and my kids are such amazing helpers! (Ages 12, 10, 5) There is NO way I could accomplish everything without them!
Oh Laura, I well remember those days! What a blessing children are. Glad you are starting to feel better.
Blessings
I am beginning to see that helpfulness in my own kids now. It’s wonderful!
That is so true….to train them young to be helpers! I remember telling my four that even if we all just worked 15 minutes, that equaled an hour and 15 minutes of just me working alone. It seemed to make an impression and 15 minutes isn’t too long. Add 15 more and instead of me working 30 minutes, it’s 2 1/2 hours! WOW! Thankful you’re all feeling better! It’s been a rough season of illnesses around our small town, too.
Thank you for the reminder that littles WILL become more helpful. With 3 under 7 and being six months pregnant, I occasionally become discouraged by the disarray of my house. It is much better this pregnancy as my 6 1/2 yo can do amazing things when she’s in the right mood!
Thank you for this post, Laura! My 9 yo and 12 yo boys have really stepped up to the plate with helping out after my surgery this summer. My husband is such an example to them! I agree that the hardest part of accepting help is that sometimes the chore/job is not done “the right way” (in other words, “my way”). I have, with God’s help, learned to be thankful for the help that I am given!
Laura, so glad you and your family are feeling better. Love your website so much.
I was wondering if you have a recipe for the cookies that your boys were making? I’m thinking it’s a sugar cookie and one of my LOVES sugar cookies. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Never mind…had looked in your recipe section and didn’t see but have since used the “search” feature and found it. Yay!
I’ll post it here anyway, just in case others are curious: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/smells-like-christmas-cookies-orange-cream-cheese-cut-outs :)
We didn’t put the orange juice in this time though – just made them into cream cheese cut outs. Love these cookies!
Thanks! This is different than the one I’d found previously.
Your story reminds me of one event I am thankful for because it taught me that God is able even if I am not. I am thankful for God giving me kids with an ability to adapt to the needs of the moment. My two are 5 years apart. When we were first stationed back in Miami from NJ with the Coast Guard and were ‘moving’ in I hurt my back moving boxes and had to crawl down the stairs, in severe pain, to a couch. I had trained my 7 year old girl well enough to make sandwiches for the 2 year old boy who, to my immense relief, was behaving like a gem. Dad was on ‘duty’ and I knew he wasn’t going to come home that night but God had provided a way. He is wonderful and rescued us thru my 7 year old. I am thankful for kids that, most of the time (LOL), come thru for me. Laurie is 43 now and Claude 38 and they STILL AMAZE ME. ((Train up a child…))
Raising our Children for God – taking time to train them…it is a blessing to them and our Father and when they do grow and see how they can help without being told, it becomes a blessing to all! Thank you for this sweet reminder.
I’m so thankful for my 3 boys. A friend recently offered to let them come over to her house so I could be free to accomplish some things at home. But I didn’t want to let the boys go….they help me so much that to send them away wouldn’t be helpful!
I needed this reminder today to be grateful for EACH season of life. That season you are talking about seems AGES away for me. (I have a 2 1/2 yr. old, a 1 yr. old, and am expecting our 3rd blessing in April.) Some (or most) days I feel like I am taking 2 steps forward, and 1 step back with everything I do. I pray to the Lord for patience, faith, and foresight to realize that these little years are precious, and what I do now DOES impact them!!!
Thank you for your “gratitude attitude”!
May God bless you for all you do to nurture and train your children! Thanks for the great post & for hosting the linkup, & God bless!
I’m thankful for my two beautiful babies and how much fun they are now, but I can’t wait for the day that they are old enough to help with chores around the house!
Although I cannot say that they are ALWAYS tremendously helpful, my three boys pull their fair share of jobs around here each day ~ from chickens to dishwashers:) I am most thankful when they help each other, voluntarily, or pull me out of an emotional slump “just because” they love me. And at my blog, I am thankful for green beans this morning!
I am grateful I found your blog and had the opportunity to read all the positive comments. In a world full of so much that is negative it is so wonderful to find there are many women working to raise their children to love and serve and know their Heavenly Father. I am a mother of 5, all married to wonderful spouses and the grandmother of 9, almost 10. My daily prayers always include gratitude for my family. They are my greatest blessing.