With Age Comes Responsibility

As part of Christian's martial arts training he now has to complete a daily chart of chores/responsibilities, checking off those tasks he does over the course of the day. He turns this chart in to his instructor at the end of each month and can earn things like uniform patches, medals, trophies...even new uniforms! One of the items listed on his chart is to make his own bed. I have to tell you that that one caused me a bit of alarm because while I am all for him doing more around the house, I am a bit anal-retentive about how a proper bed should be made! So, after taking a deep breath, we started the first day of the month with he and I making the bed together and that worked out quite well. Until this morning, when he announced to me after breakfast that he wanted to try to do it by himself. After another deep breath, I agreed it would be a good thing for him to try this on his own. I had to leave the room though since I knew that if I spotted a crease or wrinkle I wouldn't be able to control the urge to offer my help. In my mind I comforted myself with the thought that I could always make adjustments afterward when he wasn't looking. Well, imagine my surprise when he announced that he was finished and I went into his room to find a beautifully made bed and one very proud almost five year old boy! He was so proud of himself in fact that he asked me to take his picture with him next to the bed that he worked so hard to make. The following pictures speak for themselves.



A mother let go a little bit today and a little boy grew up just a little bit more too -- but, I'm afraid I'll have to draw the line when he asks if he can do his own laundry!!!