Today’s take FIVE... responsibility!
Raising five kids is endless repetition! Many days feel like groundhog days. Just getting to school seems worthy of the daily achievement. Lots of days I get irritated REPEATING myself.
Of course repeating myself is a pet peeve! Had to make use of the vein in my forehead for soemthing! Haha. These FIVE are just like every other child they have a unique design which sometimes solely exists to test the mental fortitude of myself at some stages of life. Or all, if I’m honest, beacause they are always all the ages/phases at once !
One thing these FIVE know is that “R” word is one that I fling around a lot. Especially as we Enter the teen phase. It’s one thing to tell them to be responsible but it’s a very different project to teach responsibility and accountability!! I hope that one thing they’ve watched and learned real time my example.
Responsibility is a core value, it sets the tone for many other behaviours and way we approach the day. Yes, I’m that mean sister that insists on chores, tidyish rooms and doing a job well. That’s why the day begins making the bed, even quickly it’s still helping set the tone for the day. We all know someone, perhaps a wagon load of people who don’t take responsibility or accountability for their actions. That can be hard to take graciously as irresponsibility usually effects the wrong people the most.
So, how do you make sure make sure you instill these values in your children so you’re not adding to this world another human without these qualities?
I don’t have an absolute answer, I’m still working on gettin them raised up. However, what I know I was taught rings true...
“Marina, if a job is worth doing it’s worth doing well!”.
That phrase stuck to me in my childhood like a fly in a Venus trap. My grandparents said it over and over... yes, like a broken record. Guess what?! It stuck! ... eventually. At 36, I still hear my Grandpa's voice whispering them when this job gets tough.
The secret to that success I believe falls under your commitment to consistency. To consistently teach responsibility and accountability daily in every possible way in real time. The little moments matter more that the big ones because without those early lessons a child isn’t able to grow into responsibility.
Responsibility is taught. Accountability is taught.
Teach your kids responsibility. Go out of your way in their presence to show them every day small examples. These examples accumulate, they percolate in their young minds. A child’s eye is a watchful place. Make sure what they see now is what you’ll want them to show others later.
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