So to continue my thoughts on the whole working mom thing. While I'm starting to figure a lot of it out, there's lots more to get a handle on. For example, how do other people stay on top of the house - especially in summer, when the kids are home all day to mess it up?
I am wearing so many hats as a start-up entrepreneur that most of my physical energy is invested in business efforts. I make a diligent and conscious effort to interact with my children and spend quality fun time with them every day, but there would be practically zero household routine if my husband were not such a proactively helpful partner.
My kids are willing helpers when it comes to picking up their stuff... after much armtwisting, cajoling, nagging, threatening, growling and gnashing of teeth. I know they aren't like this at school. The Montessori classroom has a strict expectation of order that they thrive on during the school day. Why does it get left behind when they walk through the front door of their home?
When asked about this phenomenon at the parent conference, the teachers explained that it requires a lot of energy during the day to do all the work that they do and maintain the self control required to keep it all together. They suggested that it might be healthy for the kids to feel comfortable and have a more relaxed structure at home. Reduces stress they said. Ok. I can see that. But what about my stress level?
I want my kids to feel an inner sense of satisfaction from maintaining a tidy environment. That should be the reward. I don't think it should be necessary to provide material incentives and bribes to get them to do what needs to be done to keep the family home pleasant.
So far, it's working great for me. Yeah - right.
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