The;most;difficult;aspect;of;teaching;children;responsibility;is;the
amount;of;time;and;energy;demanded;of;the;supervisor—you.
consistent.;Remember,;however,;that;you
are;only;human,;and;you;will;fall;short
frequently. Don’t beat yourself up over
that!;Forgive;yourself;just;as;Christ;has
forgiven;you,;and;aim;to;do;a;better;job
the;next;day.
When;trying;to;determine;a;child’s;re-
sponsibilities, it is important to have rea-
sonable expectations, depending upon
age;and;ability,;and;to;be;clear;in;your;ex-
pectations. It is also important to not give
too;many;directives;at;one;time.;We;have
found;that;it;helps;to;display;on;the;refrig-
erator;(or;another;highly;visible;place);a
chart that lists who does what and when.
Since children respond well to positive
reinforcement,;you;could;leave;spaces;on
the chart for adhesive stars or other stick-
ers to be added as a visible reward for a
job done;properly;and on;time.;If;you
would like to go one step further, you
could reward the child who has the most
stickers;(after;a;week;or;two);with;some
kind of prize, such as a small amount of
cash, a trip to the ice cream parlor, or an
inexpensive;restaurant;lunch.;If;you;are;an
exhausted mom who is either pregnant,
has;a;new;baby,;or;has;very;young;chil-
dren,;you;could;enlist;your;older;children
to learn some of these parenting and men-
toring;skills;by;teaching;them;to;supervise
the;young;ones;as;they;do;their;chores.;It
will;be;a;help;to;you;and;good;for;them;at
the same time.
A trend of consistency is better than
none. You can make a fresh start the
next morning, and remind yourself,
“I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 13).
1
Nancy Doran is a mother of seven and has
homeschooled since 1992. She is a writer
and editor whose work has appeared in An
Encouraging Word, The Livingston Post,
and The;Livingston;Parent;Journal. In addition, she tutors high school students in
writing and edits college application essays
for Schollegiate College Advisors. Besides
writing and editing, she enjoys knitting and
making whole wheat bread from freshly
ground organic wheat berries. You can find
more of her writing at www.nancygillard
doran.blogspot.com.
Endnote:
1.;Scripture;taken;from;the;New;King;James;Ver-
sion®.;Copyright;©;1982;by;Thomas;Nelson,;Inc.
Used;by;permission.;All;rights;reserved.
