BOREDOM TO “CHOREDOM”

Child: I am bored! There’s nothing to do!!

The Intentional Parent : oh sorry about that! Let’s think about our house and see if there’s anything to do to fill the spare time.

Is the bed made?

Are there things on the floor that needs to go back to the right place?

How white is our bath tub and toilet seat? When last did we clean the bathroom floor?

When last did we clean the fridge out?

Are there food/steam stains on the kitchen cabinets?

Does the dish rack/ dishwasher need cleaning.

How clean are the white side boards (nothing wet wipes/ disinfecting wipes cannot handle)

Check the doors and door knobs for stains that needs to be cleaned off.

When last did you sweep under your bed (some lost items have found residence there, let's fish them out 🤣)

How about I show you how to mow the lawn?

Is the laundry from last weekend folded and put away? Let's look for outgrown clothes and donate them to goodwill (then go together so they see they are blessed)

I noticed some dust on the pictures hanging on the living room wall, let’s clean them and talk about the memories behind those pictures.

The list can go on as much as it relates to your home.

I remember my summer school breaks, that was the time we had more chores to do; we would switch to the local rice and pick out the stones, my parents would buy both rice and beans in bulk and our job was to pick out the stones, add dried pepper to it before storing it in tight lid containers.

We had a small garden and would plant corn, melon, and cassava and process it into Pap, Egusi, Gaari.

Dad would stop the uncles that does his laundry from coming and we did the laundry and ironing of his clothes.

Summer break was the time to clean the house from top to bottom (including the ceiling fan) and window louvres (God help you if you break a louvre 🙆🏻‍♀️)

There was no room for boredom because we would still have an uncle come do lessons for us and we must not miss it because of chores.

We had time to play but it was play planned around chores.

Things have changed but the values and morals of child training must not change; resilience is built through life experiences and hardwork.

Dear parent, keep at it; train your child to be resilient and able to handle life without breaking down due to its demands.

God is with us all 🙏