Chore Time

I'm sure I'd get few arguments, except from kids, that chores are good for kids.  It builds character, makes them more responsible, less selfish, blah blah blah.  I think kids should do chores because it's good for their imaginations.  Chores are boring and mindless at any age. Kids, who are extremely allergic to boring and mindless, have to find some way to cope. 

In exchange for being let off cleaning the playroom, JD has agreed to scoop dog poop in the yard every three days.  Believe it or not, he never complains. He doesn't rush out to do it, and it can take him awhile, but it gets done.  The other day I looked out the window to see if he was still working and I saw him leaning on the shovel talking away to someone, someone only he could see. True, if he were a little older that would be cause for concern, but I'm pretty sure that ten year olds should still be making up imaginary scenarios. I had to giggle because I remember quite clearly talking to myself in the mirror while I cleaned the bathroom when I was a kid.  I used to make up commercials for my cleaning products.  Who knows what JD was talking about.  Perhaps he was making up another song.  Earlier in the summer he made up a little work song for himself.  He used the tune from a little kids Sunday School song called, "Who needs help?"  JD's version goes,

"Where is the poop?

I look and see

There is the poop

Right next to me!"

Repeat until all poop is scooped.

JD is not the only creative soul at our house.  Later the same day that I had seen JD talking to himself, Abby stopped me as I was walking past the bathroom.  She was supposed to be in there cleaning the sink. 

"Mom, Mom! Wait! Come in here!  You have to see my special scrubbing that I do! Watch!"

She then proceeded to do a scrub job that pretty much used every part of her body.  You might have even called it a dance.  There were large arm circles that sped around the sink in a sloshing motion and then hip circles and shoulder shrugs as well.  There was also a little song that went with it, but I didn't quite catch the lyrics as they weren't all words that were known to me.  It was something to do with scrubbing and dubbing and do dah do do dah scrub, something, something, something.  She was very proud, and the sink, as well as the floor, were quite clean.

I haven't caught Rachel with anything too creative yet, unless I count the endless organizing of her possessions into "art studios," or "offices," or "club houses," etc., as creative.  I suppose it might be. 

At any rate, I see this whole chore thing as a win win.  We'll see what the kids say in twenty years.