Life Lessons from the Wash

Today was my oldest's high school graduation. I guess I should be sentimental about the mile stone, but then again that wouldn't be me. Don't get me wrong I'm grateful for all the work she's set forth and for all she's accomplished in her life, but talking about the way she use to be isn't really my style. For me it's about enjoying the moment.

Of course, I think about the fact that she use to be a kid, but dwelling on it and mourning it like it's a loss isn't my way of living. I raised her to be independent. From the age of 5 my children start doing their own laundry. It may sound extreme, but it's been my experience that they do it well even at such a young age. Separating their clothes into piles, having them fill the washer is all part of the process. (Typically, I help with the measuring of the soap and spotting the stains, until they're use to it.) Switching the clothes from the washer to the dryer and folding them is also sanctioned as their job.

I think having them start so young has also makes them feel comfortable with accomplishments. Yes, even laundry can teach a child a few things about life.

Lesson 1: If you want something done, do it yourself. If your clothes are dirty, get up and clean them. This can also translate into being in control of your own life. How it turns out is completely up to yourself. 

Lesson 2: Mistakes are inevitable. Over filling the washer, missing a stain on a shirt, or dying your white underwear pink, cause it got washed with your new shirt, can be teaching moments. ( I did this in 6th grade.) Lucky for me, dying my undies wasn't too tragic, but learning to live with pinkish underwear was my reminder, taking a little extra time, just to be safe, is always worth the effort.

Lesson 3: Knowing you have, the know how. Sometimes, when we don't think we can, we find out, we really can. Showing them how to do it on their own can lead them towards trying something new on their own.  For me, knowing I'm crafty has helped me try several different projects. The latest was gluing a tear in a leather couch, after hearing how expensive it would be to repair. (cough, cough) And having accomplished so much in the past like; laying some bricks, build a corsage, and mending a torn sweater all helped me realize that fixing a couch wasn't so far out of my comfort zone.

I feel even the smallest life lessons, like children doing their own laundry or having a cooking night (another one, we regularly implement around here.) can be some of the simplest ways we teach our children about the bigger world beyond home life.