Chronicles of an Inspired Single Mom

Hey there wonderful people! Welcome to another week’s blog post in this series of tips for February. I hope that all is well with you in your neck of the woods. Let’s get into it.

I was originally gonna leave this thought on my insta page but decided to do a blog post instead. Ever so often my son comes up to me when he sees me busy and asks ‘Mommy do you need a little hand?’ extending his little hand towards me. Now sometimes depending on what I am doing I may decline his help which often makes him sad because he genuinely wants to help. Other times even though his help may slow me down or to be totally honest be no help at all I allow him to assist me in what I am doing.

One of the superpowers of single moms or moms in general is do activities everyday that sometimes no one notices or not sure how it got done. Case in point…sometime ago I was feeling winded between school runs, assignments and house chores I was becoming frustrated and miserable. You ever had one of those moments where you say to yourself ‘didn’t I just clean that room or wash those dishes?’ One day I decided to take a different approach and even though my children are young they got the point. The sink was filled with dishes, toys all over the place, garbage bins filled and where was I you may ask? Laying down in the couch doing absolutely NOTHING! Sometimes parents can be taken for granted or the things you do go unnoticed. You may be thinking but isn’t that what parents or mothers are there for? My response to this is that we all live in the house and if we want a clean environment or to spend quality time with each other we all have to play our part.

‘But Kamille what happened to the dirty house?’ Well to my curious readers as I said I did nothing! Everyday for about two maybe three days I did exactly what the children did. I put my dishes in the kitchen, I stepped over the toys, whatever they did I did too! ( Petty much huh well sometimes you gotta take drastic measures) I remember as I was laying in bed unbothered watching tv one night my daughter came into my room and ask what was wrong with me. “Whatever do you mean my dearest?” I asked sarcastically. She began stating how the house was untidy etc and I was not cleaning like I normally do. I don’t remember my response but later that night when I stumbled down the stairs to use the bathroom I almost had a heart attack when to my shock my house was clean!!! I realised that my point was received.

You see sometimes mothers are burning the candle on both ends. I can recall times of doing dishes at 3 in the morning or putting a load of laundry, standing for hours ironing or hours cooking. Sometimes parents need a little hand. One thing I’ve learnt throughout the years is to teach your children to be independent and also accept the help they give when offered. My daughter has been cleaning her own room since she was 6/7 I would go in and do the extra bits like the mopping or sweeping. Some may think that’s a bit harsh but now at 13 if I fall sick I don’t have to worry because she would be able to take of herself and her brother too. Ooo and he is not exempted either because he is responsible for packing away his own toys and now that he knows there is a virus he likes to go around the house and sanitize the door handles etc.

So you may be wondering how do you get your children to do chores around the house, or just use their initiative when things need to be done around the house? Here are my few tips.

1. Give each child a chore : look at their ages and decide what task whether big or small can each child do. Let them know how often you want it done and roughly how much time it should take them to complete. Hey you can even throw in a reward as an incentive for them to complete this task.
2. Say what you need done: sometimes as parents we argue (mek noise) that nobody else is doing anything in the house. wha mek dem can’t use dem common sense if dishes fu wash wash dem! Sometimes try a different approach after all the bible tells us a soft answer turns away wrath. So before you vex, she vex everybody vex! Just simply say these are the things I need done in the house today. What do you think you can help me with?
3. Accept their help: Even though it may not be done to your standard accept their help. and moms please do not go back and it fix when the child is done! Offer guidance and overtime you’ll see the improvements of the chore they perform.
4. Let them do it: My son loves washing the dishes with us. So we let him get his little step and even though he uses toooo much soap, wets down the counter and take a gazillion years on one dish he is learning and feeling very much a part of something. As they say in paw patrol “No job is too big, no pup is too small!” Let them do it..the garbage to takeout, the car to wash, scrub the bathroom, vacuum, cooking dinner or start small with preparing breakfast, even sorting the laundry; Let them do it!

We all have a part to play in our homes. Every chore is important no matter how small. Everyone’s contribution is important no matter how insignificant it may seem. Whatever you do this week or today do with a willing heart…remember charity begins at home so go on … you…yes you…won’t you lend a little hand today?