When Kids Finally Learn Responsibility

My kids leave lights on.

They carelessly discard IPOD connectors on the floor of the van.

They don't clean up their rooms.

They drink milk straight out of the gallon when they think no one is watching.

They borrow, then lose the charger to my cordless phone, thus immensely lowering my quality of life by denying me the ability to talk to my sister while I wash dishes.

They break my things and try to hide it from me, things like my double cereal dispenser.

In bed last night, John and I were discussing this matter of teaching kids responsibility. We know how to do it. We teach them to pay natural consequences when they act irresponsibly, such as insisting that they earn the money to purchase another cereal dispenser or, if they don't want to do that, then attend choir practice with me for six months. This works perfectly as long as the culprit admits his or her wrong-doing, but when there are eight suspects in the case, and no one cares to confess to the crime, things get trickier. A solution on how to solve this problem is one for another post.

My point in this post is to tell you that the 4-year-old boy...

....recently showed that he is learning responsibility. A few days ago when he was out in the courtyard playing with his new puppy....

....he somehow felt compelled to press on the screen in the door until it came out. He immediately realized the error of his ways and did the responsible thing. He fixed it......

Much better, yes? In case you're wondering how he was able to hold the screen in place while he diligently applied the painter's tape, he wasn't able. Instead he talked Twin B into standing on the picnic table below the window, then convinced him to hold the screen in place with both hands.

Incidentally, the 4-year-old's uncle who lives down the street, has not learned responsibility. Immediately before we acquired the puppy, my brother-in-law called and asked to talk to the 4-year-old boy. I handed him the phone, then innocently went back to my bedroom to nurse the baby. Twenty minutes later the 16-year-old girl came into my room, and with concern in her voice said, "Mom, Uncle M__  just dropped off a puppy for the 4-year-old boy and said he was giving it to him. When I told him I would go get you, he ran to his truck and drove off."

It was a mastiff.

But he's cute....now.....so we'll keep him.....

Please keep us in your prayers. :)