Do things right the first time!!

John Wooden says "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"   I found myself saying something very similar to my 13 year old son today as he was hurriedly trying to get out the door to go "hang out" with his friends.  My simple request of taking care of his dirty clothes was completely overwhelming to him apparently because of the gasps and heavy hmmmffff sound that came out of his mouth.  He VERY reluctantly picked up one shirt and one sock off the floor leaving the other sock and pair of shorts in a heap by his bed.  After he came running back past me with a "Oh, I hope she didn't see those shorts" look on his face... I asked him to once again take his dirty clothes to the laundry chute.  I know I shouldn't be surprised by his reaction, but I was.  "MOM!!  I don't have time to do this!!  My friends are out there waiting for me." You would think by 13 he would understand that I kind of mean business with my requests??!!??  I merely told him that he needed to take the time to do things right the first time and just think of all the time he would have had!!  This is the same principle with homework, or laundry or dishes or a project for science.  DO THINGS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!  In the long run, think of all the time you'll save!!  

Do you talk to your child?

Good Morning! Just wondering what your New Year's Resolutions are?? Do some of them include spending more time... and actually I don't just mean time... I mean QuAliTy time with your family? I am going to try and spend more time with my kinds on their schoolwork. I know my little ones will benefit from me taking more interest in what they are learning. Another suggestion... eating dinner together. I'm always amazed when I'm speaking to parents and what they tell me about their home life. Why aren't you taking the time to sit down and eat dinner together? What a better time to "debreif" on your days! Ask them about what they did at school! Ask them who they played with at recess! Ask them what they learned in chemistry! If your kids know you are truly interested in their day and you build that base communication... it's going to be a lot easier for them to communicate with you about the "tougher" items when they come up.