embracing chores...

Oh, the dreaded chore chart that surfaces every summer...

Before the girls have a chance to lean back into the leisure of no-school days, I bring up the summer chore conversation, hoping to get us all on the same page. It's usually met with moans and groans and rolled eyes. joy.

The summer chore chart is not all bad news. It's coupled with an incentive: A little cash for each chore completed (no grumbling used to be a stipulation but now I'm just thrilled when it gets done... oh, the temptation to just do it myself.). Since they don't receive a regular allowance, this incentive has been enough to keep them plodding along through the summer.

Quite honestly, I haven't done a great job of being a strong enforcer. Many days I capitulate to the pleading to overlook responsibilities not yet scratched out and do fun things instead. So end-of-the-week chore charts often have many things left undone. Oh well, I think. We'll *hopefully* get to more things *next* week... maybe...

Well, a curious thing has been stirring in this little (not-so-little) one over the past year:

(mmm, I think it's time for another trip to Give Thanks!)

Over the past year my youngest has taken a liking to lists and checking them off, time management and making sure we ARE NOT LATE TO ANYTHING, wanting to turn her homework in on time, and even making sure she has a water bottle for swim each practice, because her coach said needs one and WE CAN'T NOT HAVE ONE THEN, MOMMY!  (hmm, I wonder if there's a deeper issue that needs to be addressed... oh well, back to the chore connection...)

So with that checking-off-her-list mindset before her this is what getting to chores has looked like for Emma over the past few weeks of summer:

(who wouldn't feel like vacuuming with a little music, right?... right?)

Don't get me wrong. She's not singing and cleaning all the time. By no stretch of the imagination. 

I'll take what I can get, though.

It's just been so neat to see her growing into her own, figuring out what she likes and doesn't like, taking some responsibility for herself, and gaining some self-control. little bits at a time. Thank you, Lord! Many prayers later and seeing glimmers of the lovely young girl she's being shaped into is a delight!

As we grow together and wait for divine intervention to mature the both of us, I'll just continue to sneak pics of her whenever I can.