Working Builds Self-esteem in Children
by Mary Ann Halloran
When I was a little girl in the city of Phoenix, I learned the importance of work and of feeling like an important part of the project since I was a contributor. I mainly learned this since my dad made us a part of what he did outside. My mother did the same indoors.
My dad had a lawn service. It was a family affair. Early on Saturday mornings, we would all go out to cut several lawns. When we started, it was my dad, my four older brothers, my sister and me. My sister and I were about 4 and 6 years old. Our job was to trim around the sprinklers in the sprinkler system. We felt important and that it was fun.
My older brothers did the edging, cutting the lawn, and trimming the bushes. Sometimes after we finished, we would visit briefly with the homeowner, and then we were off to the next house on our list.
As we grew up, my older brothers left home one by one, and my sister and I, along with our dad and our younger brother, did all the lawn work for years. It was a great upbringing.
Now I live on a ranch and raised my children on a ranch. Several of my children would milk the goats, clean corrals, ride horses, water the cattle, work in the garden, and help irrigate fields with their dad. They knew they had an important role to play.
It gives me great joy now to see my grandchildren working on the ranch, helping skin a steer, package meat, work in the garden, feed the chickens, and gather eggs. They know they play an important part.
The children who live on the ranch also learn to offer hospitality to our guests, visit the sick and the elderly, and other works of service so valuable in life.
Whether you live in the city, in a town, or in the country, I encourage parents and grandparents to include their children in family work. This is a vital life-long lesson. Not only is it healthy for them to work and to learn good work ethics, but they feel they play an important part in it all. It builds their self-esteem. They will have no problem holding a job later in life.
Get your kids outside. Maybe together you can plant a little garden, shovel snow, build something, water the trees, vacuum the car, or clean the garage. Those are only a few suggestions. You will have more and better ideas.
I consider a good work ethic as one of the most valuable lessons my parents passed on to me.
Thanks, Mom and Dad.
God bless,
Mary Ann / Mother Hen