Putting the Kid to Work

Even though we still have one more birthday celebration coming up tomorrow, it's high time that our seven year old starts to realize that she's no longer a baby. So, we've decided that Abby needs to start getting more responsibility around the house - after all, it's about time the kid started pulling her weight. Enter the chore chart.

Actually, Abby loves to help out whether it is with doing dishes,

making dinner,

or doing the nightly Swiffering of the floor (or the dog as the case may be).

Despite the fact that she's a pretty good helper, there aren't any jobs that she is solely responsible for. Jason and I spent some time brainstorming some things that she could do. I think that mowing the lawn and doing the laundry were thrown in there as options, but they may have to wait until she's a bit older - at least until she's eight! For now we settled on three things: feeding Bruiser, making her bed, and picking up her toys. This morning she fed Bruiser, so she got to put a sticker on her chart. A full chart can be redeemed for a nice treat at the end of the week.

I talked through her chart with her and she was very excited, she even wanted to go right up and make her bed. The only problem became that when we got up there she found the toys she'd left spread all over it from this morning and got distracted. I guess we'll be taking baby steps on the whole process. The fact of the matter is, she is able (if not always ready) to help out, and any accomplishment should be celebrated. Hmmm, makes me wonder if Jason and I should have sticker charts as well - maybe then I'd get my chores done.

Unfortunately "taking out the garbage" was ruled out along with laundry and the lawn, she just isn't tall enough - yet!

Abby takes her chore seriously and carefully feeds Bruiser.

Okay, so I admit the garbage can shot was staged. I had to include this one because she thought it was so funny when the wind started blowing the garbage bag all over the place.