Bee~ Journal of then...

[Beekissed]

Tonight we finish the roof bracing on the shed, pick up all sticks in the yard and orchard, rake more of the yard, wash windows, clean out eaves, wash down the outside of the house and put hay over mushy, muddy spots by the porch and house.

Me? I'll be putting plastic on my cold frame and planting some lettuce and cleaning my room. Tonight I'll go out and check for non-layers and choose who to cull tomorrow. Now that's a job I'm not looking forward to!

This new assertiveness is really working for me!

 

[Beekissed]

You guys ever have the "come to Jesus" meeting in your homes for kids or hubbies? I've had them but none this cleansing and uplifting. Now let's see if I can sustain this level of strength.....

 

[Farmfresh]

Bee - you are a gal after my own heart.

When my son turned 18 his dad said "Where do you think you are going to live next year?"

Kid was shocked.

He was the baby and really not to motivated. The girls were working and moved out after high school - one was even married (and still is 7 years later - Praise God). Geek son was content at home.

After daddies little talk he said "You mean I have to be out before my next birthday? You are not serious!" Daddy made some mention as to how serious and then told him it was for his own good.

He has been out just about 2 years now. It is both psychologically and in some cases physically necessary to the process of becoming a grown up.

I believe it is part of the reason we have so many immature adults all around us these days.

 

[freemotion]

You go, girl!! Get all the heaviest work done while they are home, to save yourself and also to motivate them out even faster!!! Yup, the roof, building projects, digging in the garden....anything heavy and requiring lots of muscle. You will be on your own VERY soon and it will be nice to have all the heavy work done for a while.

Then have them home for a nice meal and laundry once a week and make that chore day, too, in exchange for using the facilities! I'd do their laundry and cook for them in exchange for some back-breaking chores

 

[Farmfresh]

I agree! That home cooking can be a GREAT motivator for those boys.

 

[Beekissed]

Actually, these boys can cook everything I can and most of the time they can cook it as well or better! I have taught them something!

They went looking for jobs together today....

I think I found a program at a local college where they can each get their CDLs in 8 wks and its based on income as to the tuition. The local Workforce helps guys get in there and get this accomplished and then helps them find jobs driving truck afterward. Lots of local trucking jobs near the town they want to relocate into.

That way, while Eli is trying to lose weight for the military, he can go to school and Joel can actually have a skill to offer when he goes job hunting. I think its a great opportunity...they are mildly enthused. :/

FF, you are right! When I was growing up, NOONE stayed at home when they graduated. It just wasn't done very much back then. I know its more financially responsible now to share housing, but that only works if all adults contribute equally to the house bills and problems. This doesn't work very often with an adult child at home!

Free, you betcha! I am milking this for as long as I can and any way I can. I've had all this cheap labor sitting around that I used only marginally and occasionally. Its time to get my money's worth for all these years of struggle, blood, sweat and tears, baby!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Wow, Bee, you mean you just started making them work around the place????

My kids think we are cruel. Every job we do, we make them help. Even my 3 year old is made to carry water. He's the laziest one and whines all the time. The more he whines, the more he has to do until he stops the whining.

They help with the chickens and goats and cleaning the yard and the house, etc. No lazy's here.

The baby is the only exception...but his time is a coming! Soon as they start walking, they are farming!!

They even helped build the raised bed today!

 

[Beekissed]

Nah, Aly! I've made them work all along, but I've stepped it up in high gear so they will be motivated to find themselves an easier life. They clean house each day, cook, do laundry, maintain the animals and any other special chore that I ask anyway.

BUT, that has been nothing to what they will be doing from now on. I'm trying to make this place a not-so-soft place to land, if ya know what I mean?

Warm house, all the food you can eat, getting to play games or watch movies on TV, hot showers, laundry facilities, a car and gas money in the tank....in exchange for cleaning, getting in firewood, cooking, laundry, feeding and watering animals?

Not enough of a trade off, in my thinking! So, I evened the playing field a little and they will not have it quite so comfortable and accomodating from now on.

Know what I mean?

 

[lorihadams]

Bee, you ROCK!!!

 

[Farmfresh]

Bee -- I am ashamed. You provide car and gas?!!!!

Wow you ARE nice.

When daughter #1 was first learning how to drive hubby took her out in our old full sized Jeep Wagoner (emphasis on OLD). During one of her practice runs she pulled into the wrong driveway (not her grandpa's) and hubby told her it was OK just back out on to the street and go on down the road. Well she was flustered and when she backed out she went too fast. Hubby told her to slow down - so she stomped on the brake. Except it was the GAS not the brake!!!:/ They shot backwards across the road down a big ditch and into a huge rock! No one was hurt - thanks to the BIG OLD jeep, but you could put your fist into the crack between the back door and the car frame - with the door shut!! She bent the frame so bad we had to total the vehicle.

We dried her tears - told her things like that happen sometimes - mentioned (to her SHOCK) that she owed us $200 bucks to replace our vehicle that she broke and took her to look for a job! She had one by that afternoon.

Man are we mean!

We always made them buy their own vehicles, insurance, and gas. Everything in order or you didn't go anywhere.