WORK

Jake asked me awhile ago what my "theme" for raising the kids is.  He said in the Army they have a theme/motto, where he teaches has a theme and he wondered if I had one for my "job."  I came up with one that encompassed the three things I feel like are very important to me and that I find myself harping on each day with the kids.

(I painted over a garage sale canvas, taped off the words, and let the kids go to town with painted hands)

I came across this quote today on a blog I read and it just resonated with me.

If there is one thing I want my children to know how to do it's WORK.  I remember picking up sticks from the yard from a young age.  I had chores and an allowance.  I think work is important and so is being grateful for what you have and if you work for it you're that much more grateful.  I paid for nothing growing up, but always worked (as waitress) once I was 16 and saved that money.  I felt like I had the best of both worlds.  I was "spoiled" but not a "brat."  Nothing worse than a spoiled brat, right?  They definitely don't follow my third thing of "BE NICE" that stems from my Mom's counsel (that she says comes from Grandma Sellers) to
 "kill 'em with kindness."

Parenting isn't easy and there is so much I want my kids to know and learn, but to know how to WORK HARD and not blame life on your situation or surroundings will be HUGE in this game we call life.