Or maybe it's just boys?
It seems every time I turn around something else is broken, bent, or torn.
Sometimes it is fixable. Sometimes it is ruined.
We are trying to instill a respect for belongings, and the responsibility of care, without leading to a love of things.
People are more important than stuff. But people need to take care of their stuff.
Sometimes I think if they would only use things for their intended purpose, in the way they were intended to be used, then maybe so much wouldn't end up broken. But where is the room for creativity? For invention and exploration?
In the end, I've decided this issue is like so many others, and there isn't one answer. It depends.
So we continue. To teach them to take care of their things, and the things of others. To value people more than stuff. To show grace when it truly was as accident. And to discipline when it wasn't.
Is it just us? Or do too many things get broken at your house, too?
P.S. I am not incriminating Alan with these pics of him. I just happened to like them, and the fact they contain approximately 1,000 pieces. Also, there wasn't anything broken today. No 'straw that broke the camel's back' and led to this post. :)
5 comments:
Haha, my favoite part is the disclaimer at the end.
It must be the kids, I just sat here and tried really hard to think of something that has been broken around here, but I came up with nothing. I probably just jinxed myself for the move though... :/
It's not just you. It's not just boys. And if you figure it out, please, please let me know!
Not just you...I think it is the call of childhood. "If I do THIS with THIS, what will happen? Ooops! MOMMM!" :-) My girls do it too.
Amy, it isn't just your family. My mom used to have a saying when her girls were small "When you have kids, you cannot have anything else." Now, that her kids are grown she changed it to "When you have a cat, you cannot have anything else." Both statements are true. I used to have lots of dodads. Now, I have lots of broken dodads. Once my mom bought a new tube of lipstick. Somehow my sister got a hold of it, took it outside and drew a hopscotch grid with it. It is just part of life.
"People are more important than stuff. But people need to take care of their stuff."
That's exactly what I am trying to teach my girls and what seems to be missing a lot these days in the world. Too many things are cheap and easy to replace. :(
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