Try not to do too much for your kids that they can do themselves. They are going to learn to get dressed by you letting go and letting them do it. Yes, my children’s shoes end up on the wrong feet 75% of the time (you’d think they’d get it right at least half of the time), and things will go a lot slower or messier. It’s all a learning process. Moms, by nature, are helpers…or are forced to become them. It has been a learning process for me. Sometimes it’s easier to just do it for them, or we want to truly serve our families. There’s a time and a place for that, to be sure. However, you don’t want that nature to get in the way of your children gaining independence as well as learning that you are not their slave.
I completely agree with this as we are paying for it now by having to retrain our 8,9 and 11 year old. We really did them a disservice when they were little by cleaning up after them, assembly line changing/dressing them etc…Thankfully, they do dress themselves now, but the cleaning up and helping around the house isn’t a habit for them. It was always just easier for me to do it when they were little. I have learned my lesson and am having my 2 1/2 year old help pick up her toys now.
This is encouragement to me. It can be easier to do it myself, so knowing that the future looks brighter if I have the patience with the longevity of the process now gives me hope. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Jodi! This is a very timely tip for me. I am in the process of having both of my boys do more and more for themselves(guess I really am preparing us all for baby #3 to come). Just this morning while sharing a water bottle drink my 4 1/2 year old whined “I can’t open it!” I encouraged him to try again and looked at the friend I was with and shared with her how I am trying to build independence.
Thanks again for sharing!
Nice work, Trina. I am actually going to do a tip about training kids to help with the baby. Giving a bottle or feeding them soft food (yogurt, baby food, etc.) can teach them so much while also allowing you to get other things done. I am sure your boys will be great helpers.