Shannon Entin

At 08:06 PM 9/5/2004 +0000, you wrote:
>What does cleaning look like in my house? A
>pissy, grumpy, grumbling mommy from whom the children scatter like
>chickens... who'd wanna help me? who'd want THAT job? If picking up the
>house means a bad attitude, my children (and me for that matter) would
>rather take their happy attitude right out of the house, as far from me as
>possible.

True. I am one of those odd people that enjoys cleaning. I really get into
it, break a sweat, and feel so good when it's done. I think my example has
shown my son that you can get a sense of accomplishment from just about
anything. My house is not often *tidy*, but it is always *clean*. Last week
I was resting on the couch (I am 9 months pregnant - due any day) and my
son (who will be 6 in November) decided he wanted to clean the house. I got
him some paper towels, windex, a mop and the dustbuster. He proceeded to
clean the whole house, giving me updates as he went from room to room. He
was so proud of himself. I paid him $2 - he didn't ask for any money and we
don't give him an allowance yet, so he was stunned. I was nervous that he
might start *asking* for money when doing future household activities, but
so far he has not ever mentioned the money again, and still helps me clean
and do dishes regularly.


"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
-- William Butler Yeats

Shannon Entin
entinfamily@...
www.ShannonEntin.com and www.TheEntins.com






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