Uphill.. both ways

I think it is fair today my kids have no idea how good they have it. I'm reminded of this every time ask get the strained breathing after I ask if they have done their chores. By their estimation, they are the only kids in school that have chores and they can't understand their plight.

My standard is not the other kids in school.

When I was their age my parents decided to take on the ultimate home improvement project. They added a large addition to the house. I think my parents must have really felt their children's sense of ownership was important, which explains the new creative chores my brother and I got to do everyday.

When the project started we got to try to break up pavement where the house was going to be. I don't think I had seen enough hard prison movies to get the rock breaking technique down. As it turns out, though, even if you can break them you can carry the broken rocks to the back yard.

Soon after that, I learned a house needs a foundation, which according to my Dad is easier dug by smaller bodies because of the narrowness of the twelve inch wide, 48 inch deep hole. I will tell you as you, as you are waging war on the numerous roots that really undermine the joy that is shoveling, you begin to fantasize about just washing dishes or picking up your room.

During the course of construction I learned a lot. Smaller bodies are better at getting into spider filled crawlspaces, placing itch inducing insulation into the corners of the attic and swinging a hammer on a roof. I'm not sure why a smaller body is better on the roof, but I think it is because a lighter body takes less damage from a twenty foot fall.

This is not a story I share to point out where my parents failed. No, no, no. If you are thinking that, you are probably not a parent. This, in my estimation, was good parenting. So good in fact, that as I hear my kids complain about their chores it gives me ideas.

I can see it now. "Dad, why is the shovel in here?". "Because, Sierra, I'm going to enhance your enjoyment of doing dishes."

(insert evil laugh)