Major Benefits I Found in Kids’ Chores

Major Benefits I Found in Kids’ Chores

Do you have kids? Do they do kids’ chores?

My children have been doing kid’s chores – folding their clothes at least 2x per week and taking out the trash and a few things here and there – but not very consistent. About 2 months ago, I started all 3 of my kids (ages 13, 9, and 7) on a set chore schedule.
This has been the best thing for all of us.
I’m a single parent and I work 2 jobs so I explained to them I can’t do this on my own. I need your help. This is our home and we must clean up after ourselves.
Sometimes I didn’t want to bother implementing it because, truthfully, it’s tiring getting after them. But, I got into it and I found joy in teaching them how to do things like clean the bathroom. I was really surprised to find out how they get into it!

Kids’ Chores Benefits I’ve Discovered

  1. They are a HUGE help! I can’t stress this enough!
  2. They save me time and I can have more time with them. If I’m helping them then I’m spending quality time teaching them.
  3. They are learning life skills that they will use!
  4. They are learning independence. So when they are on their own they CAN take care of themselves and have tons of experience behind them.
  5. I see their confidence soar as the try and get better and better
  6. I see they notice when something is messy or out of place now. They either fix it or get on the one who is slacking.
  7. They are fully capable of doing a great job. And they feel great when they do their best. I bring that up with them so they recognize this. Hopefully it will carry over into other things.

Kids’ chores we are doing:

13 year old boy

  • Trash
  • Lock up all doors and windows every night
  • Clean downstairs bathroom
  • Vacuum downstairs
  • Wash own dishes
  • Fold and put away own clothes 1x per week

9 year old boy

  • Clean upstairs bathroom
  • Dust and vacuum boys room
  • Wash own dishes
  • Fold and put away own clothes 1x per week

7 year old girl

  • Straighten shoes on front porch and sweep.
  • Dust and vacuum room
  • Wash own dishes
  • Fold and put away own clothes 1x per week.

We also cook together.

This has also helped me to be “on it” more. I wash my dishes so when they bring their dishes up they see an empty sink and they can’t just throw their dishes in with the rest. Because they’ve been doing kids’ chores, they are more aware.
Also I get all the laundry done and sorted into their stackable crates. So when it comes time for their folding day they have all their clothes to fold for the week.
Now when I look back I can’t believe I used to do all this myself. No wonder I was so exhausted. And, I find so much joy in watching them learn and do. I’m really proud of them and I feel great learning right alongside them.

 

Parents! Tell Your Kids THIS Mr. Rogers Quote

Parents! Tell Your Kids THIS Mr. Rogers Quote

I love this Mr. Rogers quote. I personally don’t have cable and so we don’t watch the news. But, when I hear of bad things that are so big or hit close to home, I sometimes share them with my kids. If there is a “bad guy” in the story, I ask my kids… “Do you think this guy was being his “true self”? Was his connection to his soul or to God strong?” They of course say NO. I explain that if the guy was being his TRUE SELF, doing from his heart, this would NEVER happen, correct? They agree.
I try to use it as a learning experience of how we have to be careful and not do things from anger, hate, or jealousy etc. because really bad things can happen the more we get away from who we really are and there are consequences that will be terrible to live with.

After reading this Mr. Rogers quote, I also have taken this perspective and have shown my kids this: “Look for the helpers” they are there always! The kids get excited and they then see them. It helps to see the good. Look for the good in the world in everyone and everywhere you go.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Does being clean and organized make you happy? Does simplicity bring you joy? How would you like to have every item in your home be truly useful or have it “spark joy” ( as Marie Kondo phrases it) when you look at it or hold it. You would be surrounded by things that bring fond memories and just make you plain ol’ happy!!!! The information in this book is a life changer! It explains to you how to do this in your home. It’s simple. It’s perfect and it’s totally from the heart!

Get this book and have fun making your home joyful!
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of De-cluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
<3 DK

My Journey Meditation with MUSE: #2 These Two Things Got Better Right Away

My Journey Meditation with MUSE: #2 These Two Things Got Better Right Away

Soundclip of my MUSE Story #2

As I mentioned in a previous introduction to MUSE, meditation has been life changing for me.
If it wasn’t for MUSE I simply would not be making the time to meditate. And I am doing it because I definitely see things improve in my life because of it. And of course it would, this is how I think of meditation now.

Picture me or better yet picture yourself with an electrical cord plugged straight from you and in to GOD/ Infinite intelligence/ Love/ Our Source ! Taking time to do this in your life regularly opens up access to everything good, it centers you first! Everything you do from there is going to flow better, WAY better! This is what I am experiencing since meditating regularly.
Meditation has helped me with 2 things right off the bat:

The First is my FOCUS

I have a lot of ideas… I have a lot of  things I am passionate about and I want to do. I am a single parent with 3 kids doing it all on my own and my mind is always going and jumping around from one subject to the next. It IS a problem and it wastes a lot of time.

Since meditating with MUSE, my FOCUS has improved so much! This is huge for me. And I am focusing on the things that are making my life better, that make me happy personally, professionally, with my children, and doing what I am passionate about.

I will make a list of things I am finding improvement in on another blog post soon.

The Second Thing that Changed with MUSE

It may sound a little weird but now I know it’s also from Meditation. I asked a couple of people who meditate regularly and they said ABSOLUTELY it is true and meditation is the reason! So here it is, I LOVE coffee!

I love the smell, the taste. I love having something sweet all day long that I can sip. I have a great coffee that is healthy- good for my body but I don’t like the fact that I HAVE TO HAVE IT! That it seems to control me.

Ever since I have started meditating I have noticed my “wanting” or “needing” has gone away. I sometimes make a nice hot pure green tea full of antioxidants, or a nice cold glass of 100% Orange Juice with Collagen in it to benefit my skin, hair, and joints.  (It tastes like a orange cremecicle.), or I have a nice cup of coffee with Hawaiian honey in it.

But that coffee controlling me is NOT thereIt’s like I am FEELING what is good for me and I choose to have that. I have also become more sensitive to what is not good for me and have been making better choices with those.

For instance one morning I was running late and went thru the drive through and grabbed breakfast. The whole morning I was “not on my game”, “not sharp” and it was very noticeable to me. Since then I haven’t eaten from that fast food place. I am not saying I never will.

I am saying I believe meditating has made me be more in touch with me, what is good for me and feeling the difference. I really like that!
<3 DK
Read my introduction story to MUSE here.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is the Life Changer That You Can Apply NOW!

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is the Life Changer That You Can Apply NOW!

So much makes so much sense about this book. It really teaches you the “HOW TO” so you can truly change your life NOW!

I will share a part in the beginning of this book which I like. It is about being the “watcher of your thoughts”… and I mean really being like another person watching and being aware of each thought you have! As you become aware and start to practice this,  you will not believe how much your mind just thinks and thinks from one subject to the next aimlessly. You may just be surprised at how much thought comes from negativity and thoughts from your past. I  know I was when I first read this book back around 2008.

But this watching, it is not about judging yourself. It is about bringing your thoughts to consciousness. This brings everything to the light and if there is negative thinking, the light diminishes these.  Most of us have adopted thoughts and beliefs from what our parents and grandparents have been taught and have taught and conditioned into us from the day we were born. It is also from the “pain body” as Eckhart Tolle explains in which the energy of all that is not right all around the earth  is put upon you when you are born etc.

In bringing everything to the light….. love, peace and joy stays because they are apart of your natural being – GOD.

So being the watcher of your own thoughts and also living in the NOW not for the future or in the past are the main teachings of this book. It truly is life changing information. This is not info that is being taught to you for the first time. If you are ready to “re-remember” everything that your soul already knows, reading this is like someone turning on the light and really changing your life.
Oprah has done in depth shows with Eckhart Tolle. He is truly an inspiration!

Enjoy! DK<3

Article Source

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment