What’s all this work? Poor Zac looks pained…
We has some shrubs which had grown into the size of small trees. They were starting to get close to the power lines so we had to get them cut down. The boys had to help Dad get them all loaded up onto the trailer to take away to the green cuttings part of our garbage tip. It took two large trailer loads to get the job done and it was such a cold day! Zac didn’t last long like this and had to go back in and get some gloves on.
Adam found some smaller bits to put on the pile!
The boys started to complain with the second load and yes, it wasn’t a "walk in the park". We were in there working and getting it done and emphasising the need for everyone to do their part.
Andrew called out and asked, "Have you got the kettle on?" All of a sudden, I realised here was a positive way of bringing the point home. I went in, got it boiling and then called out to the kids, "I’m making some cambric tea for you boys, who wants one?"
"Me please!!!!!" They all called out at once and then a smile came to the red-nosed faces.
They had done the work, why shouldn’t they get a lovely hot drink, like Daddy?
We only let them have cambric tea (a very milky tea) when it’s c-o-l-d. Like Laura in The Long Winter, it’s a treat and they had earned it this time.
As an aside, this is why we don’t pay our children to do jobs/chores at home. We do give the older ones some pocket money to teach a measure of responsibility with money. They get that allowance because they are part of our family and we have blessed them with that. They also have to do their jobs/chores because they are part of our family and we help/bless eachother through that. It’s part of life….
I know people have differing opinions on this one and there may be some special/extraordinary jobs where we might consider further recompense but we haven’t struck too many of those yet.
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