(Back in the day, the shoe lineup at the cabin looked more like this for ALL of the girlies... tiny, tiny little shoes!")
Now that the girlies are 8, 6, 4 and 15 months, I've noticed quite a difference. We've worked with them for quite some time to pull their weight around here. Additionally, the "What Next?" concept made great strides in Mommy having help too.
I couldn't believe it when we had everything unpacked and put away in 2 days. WOW. Amazing.
My heart was chock-full of gratitude as I communicated to the girlies how much I appreciated their help - how I couldn't have done it without them. I want them to know the satisfaction of a job well done. They certainly deserve it. Mommy is grateful to look around a tidy, "normal" house only days after vacation.
And, I'm sharing this as a word of encouragement to mothers with "littler littles" than me. They won't be THAT little forever. Sure, it's crazy when they are all little-little because you're the only one pulling the load. Keep at it. Keep letting them "help." Continue requiring the smaller jobs. Don't stop supervise because it takes a little longer. It's worth it. I'm so pleased to be able to taste just a little of the joy of working alongside my own daughters. Now, I'm smiling at the days ahead. :)
