Every experience can teach you a lot. Whether it is working a job, or going on a trip, there are always lessons you can learn to become better individuals and make wise life choices. Surprisingly, even in little instances, little experiences have their own significance when they can give you a lot of takeaways – both big and small.
One such little moment for me, was when I decluttered my wardrobe. I learned a lot more than just facts that decluttering is tough, and I owned a huge wardrobe.
Here are the ten lessons that will stay with me, all carrying trivial and big revelations.
10 Lessons I learned from decluttering my wardrobe
1. I have wasted a lot of money
When you are decluttering your wardrobe, there are not just one or two pieces of clothing you discard, there’s a bunch full of them – including the clothes that we bought but only wore once or twice. Now imagine how much we could have saved, had we made better purchasing decisions. Sounds relatable enough? If yes, then learn from my mistakes. Buy only those clothes that you know you would wear certainly.
2. What I thought I wanted, was what I merely needed
“I want it.”, that’s the constant thought I get whenever I find a dress captivating. There’s a desperate urge to buy clothes even when I am trying to save money. Well, I don’t know if that’s your weak spot, but it’s definitely mine.
Nonetheless, it was only after decluttering, I realized that what I thought I wanted, was just my urge. And when it comes to that, it’s not difficult to control once you realize that the world won’t collapse if your wardrobe doesn’t have that attire.
3. We can never be satisfied
I have heard from the saints, from the legends that we humans can never be satisfied. It is not some kind of epiphany but it definitely felt like it while I was decluttering. I owned so many clothes – only because I was never satisfied with what I had. Satisfaction comes from gratitude. We need to be more grateful for the things we have.
4. Less is Better
When it came to shopping fashion, I always believed having less is worse. I didn’t see the bigger picture back then. But now I do; ever since I got rid of a stack full of clothes – I don’t have less, I have more. And somehow, having less feels better. I realized it when I saw my closet emptier than before – it feels light. It’s as if a heavy load has been dropped off my chest. I also realize how much shopping was emotional for me and not in a good way. It was a coping mechanism verses an actual need of things.
5. Going with the trend and comparing is not important
Life is too short to worry about trivial things. Things like – “I have to keep up with the trend” “People might judge me if I dress shabbily.” “I want people to like me, even if that involves doing an expensive, and unaffordable wardrobe makeover”
Now that I think about it, it doesn’t matter – you don’t have to keep up with the fashion – the world won’t be affected. Moreover, you belong with the people who like you for being you – not your wardrobe.
6. We must strive to be in the present – even when picking a wardrobe
How often do you find yourself buying outfits for a future party that hasn’t been decided yet? I bet it happens all the time. But trust me, when it comes to wardrobe picking, never shop from a future perspective unless you know the event is certain to happen. Moreover, don’t shop for too many categories of clothes you know you wouldn’t wear frequently.
7. Material things only give temporary joy
This was something I already know, but it hit me only after decluttering. I remember how happy I was after buying a dress I liked. One week later, and after constant wear, it didn’t even matter.
8. “What-if” items are just a waste of space
Go back to the last time you were decluttering – you kept a few things wondering, “What if you’ll need it later?” Now, where are those things? Do you use them or are they still lying as they were back then?
I bet it’s the latter. But you’re not alone, it’s a universal story. Nonetheless, there’s no point in keeping “What-if things” because if you didn’t use it until now, you are not going to use it later – as simple as that.
9. Decluttering can significantly reduce stress
Are you finding the magic potion to manage stress? Trust me, decluttering can help a lot. It can reduce stress significantly – including the decluttering stress, the morning rush, and most importantly, I-cannot-find-the-dress-I-want-to-wear stress.
10. Decluttering is not a one-time process
You may get rid of some things, but things will be the same. I mean, over time you will buy new things and at the same time, you’ll find a lot of things that you wouldn’t need. So, decluttering is not a one-time process, it should be a regular practice that you must involve yourself in at least once a month.
Hey there, are there some lessons you learned too while decluttering? If yes, feel free to share them with us in the comment section.
Do you open your closet and fall against your back beneath a pile of clothes? Do you take hours to find that top you want to wear? If yes, it means your closet is full of stuff you don’t need; and you need to declutter.
However, I do know that decluttering can be a struggle. I mean how often have you taken out, and put back clothes in a conflict? So, the point is, decluttering requires letting go. And as they say, letting go is not easy. Nonetheless, it’s important if you want peace. If you want to attack your whole house, I encourage you to read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. When I read this book the first time, my life completely changed. I found so much more space in my home and felt so much better about myself. I often revisit the principals and do my decluttering at least once a month. Let’s get started on a very easy, but also difficult area, your clothes. Here are a few tips I use often when I’m decluttering and deciding what to keep and not. These work well with anyone in your family, even the kids.
How to Declutter your Clothes
1. Separate the clothes you frequently wear, and those you don’t
Letting go of clothes requires a tough heart. But before you must get to that, how about starting easy?
So, the first step is to segregate the clothes you frequently wear, and those you don’t. The first batch is definitely the one you won’t have to let go of. While for the former, you know you have to. If you have seasons and want to start with clothes you haven’t worn all season, like sweater or jeans or dresses, this makes quick work.
Now the logic behind this segregation is, it won’t be much of a struggle with clothes you don’t wear and you don’t care about. These are the ones you can let go of easily. If you haven’t worn them all season, they go right into the pile, especially if the seasons are about to change. However, sometimes even that can be troublesome. If the struggle seems familiar, you might want to follow the next step.
2. Separate the ones that are worn out or those that don’t fit you anymore
Worn-out clothes – those that look old and ragged, or have threads pulling out, buttons broken, with tears- are easy to let go because there’s no reason to keep them – making the first lot that you can get rid of, easily.
Next, coming to those clothes that don’t fit you anymore. You might be tempted to keep them on a pretense that you’ll get back in shape. I often do this with workout clothes that are too big but still in good shape. I always think about how much money was spent on them and try to wear them again, even if they are falling down when I try to run. It’s honestly more frustrating and I always take that clothing item off, sometimes mid workout, and put it in the donate pile, because it’s so annoying. But I’m not going to gain the weight back or lose the muscle I have so I won’t fit into them again. You need to ask yourself the same, will you commit to a routine where you can wear them again, or not? Would you be able to exercise regularly? Would you be able to eat clean? Are you committed to achieving being able to wear the item again?
Be honest with yourself here. If you think you cannot fit into them again – let go. If you think otherwise, separate those clothes and give them a one-month timeline. During this month, you have to exercise, eat clean, and try to reduce the fat no matter what. If you manage to do that, feel free to keep them. If not – you know what to do.
3. Know where to donate your clothes
Kindness feels good. Sometimes when you know you are donating your clothes to those in need, your heart gets bigger. In other words, you let go without much of a struggle. So, if you want to seriously let go of clothes, and want to help someone, talk to an orphanage or social services regarding clothes donation. Once you do that, clothing donation would seem like an obligation (It’s a good thing).
Here in Arizona, there are drop off boxes for shoes, clothes, household items, books and similar items that benefit local charities. I feel better about taking my items that are still in good shape to these places because they do get a second life with someone who can use them. Obviously, if the clothes are stained or not in good shape, I don’t add them to the pile. Other items I take to Goodwill because they don’t fit into the above mentioned categories.
4. Ask yourself all the decluttering questions
Decluttering can be a struggle, but it can become fairly easy if you ask yourself the right questions. Here is the checklist.
“Do I really like this piece of clothing?”
“Do I wear these kinds of clothes?”
“Would I really have them altered?”
“Is there going to be a party anytime soon, where I can wear it?”
“Am I not letting it go because it’s in good condition, knowing that I don’t wear it?”
“Am I not letting go because it created a hole in my pocket?”
“Does this item bring me joy?” — Marie Kondo question
Once you ask these questions, it’s a no-brainer that you have to be honest with yourself. Nonetheless, if you are conflicted about the last two questions – trust me there’s no use in creating unnecessary space even when it’s in good condition. If you are donating, someone can use it. Secondly, if it was expensive, it’s in the past, you cannot get the money back, so there’s no point in holding it either. And if someone can use that expensive item and actually enjoy and use it, it’s serving them better than sitting in your closet collecting dust and taking up space.
This deserves another section because it’s something sensitive. Sometimes you don’t keep clothes because you think they’re in perfectly good condition, or you wasted money on them, but because those clothes are souvenirs of moments or people. Holding onto these items can mean you are not moving on.
So, ask yourself, “Is it the right thing to do?” “What are other ways I can remember this person or moment?” Sometimes, you can look in your phone and find a photo of the clothing item, the person or experience, and keep the memory that way versus the clothing item.
It’s you who has to make the call.
Lastly, Make it a routine
You might want one piece of clothing really bad this month, but a few months later, you might even forget about it because you wouldn’t like it anymore. It’s human nature – we get bored and tired of things, especially clothes, that’s why we keep buying new, not because we own fewer of them.
So, it is highly suggestible to evaluate your clothes every now and then, make it a routine. Trust me, decluttering cannot be a one-time process, because of the same reason mentioned above, and because we own too much. We change, clothes change, as do the seasons. It’s important to remember it’s ok to change and want different things, just remember to sort out your closet as much as you change your mind.
Nonetheless, once again, to make it easier, you need to ask yourself all the right questions. (The ones I listed above, in the previous section) and answer honestly.
Hey there, do you find decluttering hard? Feel free to share your views and ideas with us in the comment section.
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Nutritious meal options
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At the end of the day, all we want is a good, healthy, and fun relationship with our families. We want to hang out with our loved ones, laugh over lame jokes, talk about our favorite movie characters, and go on fun vacations with them, it’s what everyone desires.
Yet such a relationship is not easy to establish. It takes effort; it takes understanding, and last but not least communication. If you are a parent, I am sure you want that kind of relationship. You want your children to walk up to you with their problems, hang out with you like they do with their friends. In a nutshell, you want to establish an interesting, and enjoyable relationship with your children.
But the question remains HOW. But why worry when we are here to help. The secret to a healthy family relationship is bonding. The more you bond with them, the more enjoyable your relationship will become. In other words, bonding is a great exercise to bring people closer together. So, here are some family bonding ideas you can keep in your toolkit.
50 family bonding ideas
1. Have regular movie nights.
While you are at it, make sure you pick interesting movies. Perhaps you can also have your debate after watching the movie.
Whether it is a game of UNO or Monopoly, don’t forget to roast each other. Go as crazy as you can. You can even mix it up now with all the different versions of UNO or Monopoly and include your pets in the pet version!
3. Cook together.
A family that cooks together stays together. So cook lavish dinners or bake cakes together, it will allow you some time with each other. It can also teach kids how to prepare food later, or even can be a bonding experience and memory with an elderly member of the family. I remember growing up making homemade noodles with my grandma and shaking out the dough to this day.
4. Solve crosswords together.
Most of us share a love for crosswords. If you all happen to be puzzle addicts, solving puzzles together is yet another great way to bond. You can challenge each other to make it more enjoyable.
5. Work on a scrapbook together.
If you happen to have little kids, then creating scrapbooks can be one of the most enjoyable activities for them. You can prepare a family scrapbook with all your family pictures, and decorate it with stars and mirrors to make the activity even more fun.
6. Go out for a drive.
When the air is fresh, and the atmosphere around screams out calling your name, why would you not go? Drives are the perfect opportunities to go on and enjoy the weather together.
7. Have a dance party.
Don’t let your age stop you. You are never too old to dance, even with your kids. Be your crazy self, show them your weird moves and let them show theirs. Dance like no one’s watching. We sometimes also do singalongs in the car because it’s fun and the kids know the song, and it’s different.
8. Challenge them with a book reading.
If you happen to have a family full of avid readers, books are a great medium to bond. Read a book together, and when you are done, engage in book-related conversations.
9. Write a funny poem together, make weird rhymes while you are at it, and laugh together.
10. Declutter together.
11. Have a family album time.
Just lie down, and reminisce about the old days. This could be flipping through your phone or a digital album now that most things are online.
12. Go go-karting.
13. Play video games together.
Need for speed, counter strike? Make your pick; video games are the best creations of humans.
14. Take weird pictures of each other.
Don’t forget to blackmail your family into putting it online.
15. Go for a long walk.
16. If you cannot keep the adrenaline in control, go hiking with your family.
17. Unleash the tickle monster inside you.
Start the battle, and make them gasp for breath.
18. Do random acts of kindness together, go to an old age center or orphanage, talk to people there.
Doing so will encourage your kids to be kind.
19. Exercise together.
Research shows that when you have an exercise partner, you are more motivated to get on track with your fitness.
20. Bake some muffins and cupcakes together.
21. Talk about business and financial markets with your family.
This is for the family with grown-ups. Turns out, the financial market is a great topic to have a conversation about.
22. Learn a skill together.
23. I bet this will be your favorite! Karaoke nights!
Just sing aloud at the top of your voice and have the time of your lives.
24. Go for a vacation.
After all, we all deserve a little break from our hectic, mundane lives.
25. Practice gratitude together.
Start a conversation about the three things you all are grateful for.
26. Go shopping together.
This has to be one of your favorites on the list.
27. Organize treasure hunts for the whole family.
28. Help each other in their work.
29. Create a budget together.
30. Create a family bucket list!
You must have done it with your friends, try your family for a change.
31. Have a bonfire night.
32. Become each others’ stylists for a day.
33. Enjoy a sport together.
Basketball, Football, or baseball? Playing YOUR FAVORITE sport with your family is a great opportunity to bond, and burn some extra calories together.
34. Paint rooms together. Does your room require much-needed paint?
Perfect, you all can paint rooms together, and while you are at it, perhaps paint each other as well.
35. Have a pillow fight.
Pillow fights are just FUN! So let the battle begin.
36. Have all the meals together.
Forget having dinners in your separate rooms. Have a rule that mealtime is bonding time.
37. Clean together.
You must dread this chore, yet when you do it together you might be able to enjoy it, and bond with your family in the process.
38. Have a musical weekend.
Sitting together with a drink in your hand, and listening to songs together as a family? How does that sound? Well, one word, peaceful.
39. Plan surprise birthday parties.
Birthdays are special days; use this opportunity to make your family members feel loved.
40. Indulge in teaching sessions with your kids.
Bond over mathematics, or science; be your kid’s teacher at home.
41. Go for car test drives.
Most family members share a love for cars. If yours does too, go for occasional test drives, or car museums for the matter.
42. Talk about feelings.
Your relationship with kids would be the strongest if you all talk about feelings with zero hesitation.
43. Tell them your stories.
Remember how I met your Mother? Kids love to hear stories from back to the days when you were young.
44. Leave notes.
It’s a great idea to take some time out to pamper your family members with cute notes.
45. Decorate the house together.
46. Go out on adventures.
Whether it is a simple boat ride, or paragliding itself, going out for adventures is the most thrilling.
47. Cuddle them with hugs, and make them feel loved.
48. Play the imitation game.
As the name suggests, imitate each other, and laugh together.
49. Do crafts together.
50. Mention each other’s qualities and annoying habits.
I will say, many of these items on this list are regulars in our house. Especially dance parties, selfie time, looking at digital albums, cuddling, crafting, and working out together. We also enjoy putting in sweat equity together which helps us all feel invested into the project and allows Steve and I to share things we learned growing up with Leila and Finlee. Every moment is a teachable moment as well as a memory and chance to bond. Don’t think because it’s not on this list, it doesn’t count! You may have your own way of bonding as a family completely different from mine!
How often have you found your kid being stubborn to get a toy they liked? And later for another, until it goes on and on, and there’s no stop to your kids’ desires even when they already have something similar right at home.
When it comes to raising children, an essential part of it is inculcating good values to ensure that they become kind humans when they grow up. One of these values is gratefulness. But even when every parent wants that; they think that it’s almost impossible because the world in which they live is driven by materialistic temptations.
While we cannot help but accept this harsh reality, at the same time, we must believe in the power of our values and upbringing. If we feed in strong values in them, they won’t rebound. They’ll stick to them because it will become their way of life.
In other words, if you’ll teach your kids to be grateful for things they have from the very start, then they might not grow up to be materialistic and ungrateful people. They will know their values, and they will live by them.
How to Raise Grateful Kids in an Entitled World
I have a personal story of someone in my immediate family who I believe was not given these tools to be grateful. And as an adult, and an older adult, they still haven’t learned how to be grateful. This person throws a fit when they don’t get what they believe they deserve, not need, even though money isn’t readily available to have the thing they want. Until they get something they want, they won’t talk to their spouse or will make their life miserable until the other person gives in and gets what they want, even if it means going without other necessary things like food or electricity.
It’s a hard thing to watch, honestly. And my girls have experienced it first hand from this person. And Steve and I remind them every day to not be like this person. It’s not a good look and it makes people really angry and not want to be around them.
Just in case, you are wondering how to raise them to be grateful, this article is all you need.
Here are 7 ways to raise grateful kids in an entitled world:
1. Stop rewarding them
Yes, rewarding kids makes your work easy – kids finish their milk, pick up their toys. And you save a lot of energy by not running after them. A win-win!
But is it really a win-win? Because even though you both get what you wanted, you cannot ignore that your constant rewards are inculcating no good value in them. In fact, you are training your kids to be materialistic and greedy in the future.
The thing is when you keep on rewarding your kids, they would never do things because they should. Right now, they are expecting something in return, later when they grow up to be adults they will never consider doing good things just out of their heart- they will always be greedy to want something or the other.
Thus, now is the time to reflect on your methods and tricks as a parent. Take extra efforts, don’t opt for rewarding schemes. Even if you have to, don’t offer material things as rewards – but some other privileges like allowing them to choose a restaurant for your next dine-out, a star sticker perhaps on their hands for being good. But even when you are at it, just limit it, ensure that you don’t use the reward system exceedingly, and make your child dependent on it.
2. Allow your kids to do their chores
Your kids might be kids, but it does not give them a free pass to not do their chores. On the contrary, when you do their chores, you are offering them comfort and privileges; kids never learn to be grateful when they are in their comfort zone. They must know what it’s like to be on their feet all day doing this chore and that. The only way to let them know is to allow them to do the chores themselves. You do not have to ask them to do all the work, but only their chores – like cleaning up their rooms, washing their dishes, etc.
For the record, when kids do their chores, they also learn to become independent in life; it also inculcates a sense of responsibility and maturity in them. At the same time, they become grateful because once they start doing the chores themselves, they realize and acknowledge all the efforts that you put in for them. If you need some support and help with this one, read my post on the topic HERE.
3. Practice gratitude with them
When you have to raise your kids to be grateful, practicing gratitude daily can significantly help. You can encourage them to create their gratitude journal wherein they write down two things they are grateful for, every day.
To heighten their interest, you can encourage them to be creative. You can ask them to doodle, paint, or calligraph their words so they enjoy the process as well. However, you do have to make sure that they do not see it as a kind of obligation. They should practice gratitude because they want to and because they mean what they write down.
Mind that, children learn more from you than the world outside. Thus, if you practice gratitude as well, perhaps they’ll end up picking the same habit. This is a HUGE one in my house because I grew up seeing the other side of this and knew I didn’t want anything to do with that.
4. Interact with kids
When you have a relationship wherein there’s unhampered communication; your kids will have a free, interesting, and healthy upbringing. You can use communication to raise them to be grateful. For instance, you can start a conversation wherein you begin by mentioning things you are grateful for. Then, you can invite them to do the same.
We recently went to Disneyland because both girls are finally old enough to remember the experience since we went in 2016 and Finlee (pictured here) was only 8 months old back then. Now that she’s 6 we could have a conversation and figure out what she really wanted to see and do as well as what Leila (almost 11 now) wanted to do/see to maximize our time and see everything. It was great getting to have a conversation with the both of them separately as well as together to get on the same page. I make a point every day to speak to them even if it’s in the car on the way to school or swim practice. Every little bit helps and I know they enjoy it and listen because it generally comes back later in conversation about what we spoke about and their lesson.
Simultaneously, you can make use of nighttime stories to inculcate good values in them. Children learn a lot from stories, so you can perhaps pick a story that communicates the good value of gratefulness. There’s always a lesson to be learned, even if it’s something you might not feel is important — kids are always listening and watching.
5. Change your ways of life
As mentioned before, children learn a lot from you. This means you have to change your habits which are promoting the opposite of gratefulness. Starting from your shopping instincts – you cannot be a spontaneous shopper in front of them; you would be promoting materialism if you do so.
Secondly, you have to teach them the importance of money. Your children need to know that money is hard to earn, which is why they must be grateful for what they have, and what you earn for them. You can’t just teach them to ask for something that costs money and it automatically appear. They have to know things aren’t free and money is require for them to get things.
6. Allow them to cherish moments
Looking for a birthday gift for your kid? Well, how about gifting them moments and memories instead of a brand-new remote-controlled car?
That being said, your goal should be to raise children in such a way that they value experiences, moments, and memories, not things. When they value these intangible aspects of life, they’ll bother less about tangible things. This is my number 1 suggestion and ask when my girls have birthdays, Christmas, or any other time they would get a gift. I always say we can provide everything they need, and even things they want at times, so their time and memories are more important with the gift giver than things. Sometimes people listen, and I’ve come to learn that those who continually get them gifts instead of spending time don’t want to put in the effort, sadly. And my girls are learning who they can count on and who they want to spend time with, for fun, not just on holidays.
7. Encourage them to be kind and giving
Kindness is the greatest gift. Unfortunately, we live in a world wherein parents do not emphasize the value of kindness. They teach them abacus and poems, but they forget preaching kindness.
If you have to raise grateful kids, you have to encourage kindness. You have to let them know that there’s a world out there that is not blessed with the privileges that they have, which is why they must be grateful and at the same time, do their best to make it a better place.
For the said purpose, you can do the following.
Go out for a donation drive every month as a family.
Encourage your kids to donate their extra clothes and toys.
Go out to orphanages and interact with the people there.
Encourage them to help out other kids at school.
Encourage them to share their lunch with those in need.
Encourage them to be good Samaritans and volunteer for good causes.
Lastly…
Gratefulness can neither be taught nor learned in a few days. It takes months, years, but most importantly, it takes a change of habits, and lifestyle to develop a grateful outlook. So, if you are a parent who is trying, we hope these tips help you out in the endeavor.
Household chores are regular tasks that enable the proper functioning and operating of the home as a system. Nobody actually enjoys doing chores. For adults, they are simply mindless tasks that have to be done every day. But what about kids?
Some parents want their children to enjoy their youth, playing in the garden instead of weeding it. Because childhood once gone, never comes back. Some parents think it is our job as adults to take care of our children. So why should we involve the children in our work?
However, research shows that kids who are taught to do the chores are more confident and self-dependent in their adulthood, and do not face a lot of adjustment problems. And the reasons for that are listed below.
Why your child needs to do the chores
1. Learning Life Skills
As children, they do not have to take care of chores like laundry, budgeting, and cooking. But they are going to grow up someday when they will run their own house. These skills are something which is not taught in schools and colleges but only at home. If kids are not taught their responsibilities at a young age, they will feel helpless when they go to college and have to live on their own.
2. Being more responsible
Why your Child Needs to do the Chores
By assigning household chores to your kids, you are reinforcing that they are held accountable for something. And thus helping them learn how to deal with bigger responsibilities better in their later lives.
3. Gaining Self Confidence
Kids become self-dependent and confident in their capabilities when they complete duties assigned to them successfully. Especially chores that are directly related to their life like cleaning their own room, arranging their toys, making their bed, etc.
This not only makes them independent and confident but also enables them to become more aware of their duties. They will become more mindful of their space and will buffer themselves from creating an unnecessary mess.
4. Learning Teamwork
Doing the household chores makes your child feel like an efficient member of your family, and teaches them that working in a team requires reliance on others as well as expectations on yourselves. These lessons of working in a team and bearing expectations and responsibilities on one’s self equip your kid for his or her future life in workplaces.
5. Learning time management
Sometimes, a person gets overwhelmed with all the work that needs to be done in a single day. Doing chores can help the children learn planning and time management. For older children, balancing schoolwork, housework, as well as extracurricular activities together, can be a really challenging task, but it is essential for them to learn how to plan their days, for they will face much more challenging schedules later in life.
6. Develops work ethics
Rewarding the children when they complete their chores, especially with an allowance, is a common practice used to motivate the kids to do the chores in the first place. This helps build a strong work ethic in them, and they are motivated to work harder at their jobs, a skill that comes in handy in the workplace.
7. Family bonding
Chores also allow you more time with your children during the day. When the parents are doing all the household work while the kids are playing, it’s easier for kids to get bored and develop a feeling of being neglected. The solution to this is to get the children to partake in the chores so that they can spend meaningful time together.
As a kid, no one likes doing chores until they are incentivized. But once older and more mature, children themselves realize the benefits of contributing to the family by helping in the proper maintenance of the household. Most importantly, doing chores imparts invaluable life lessons to the kids, teaching them the ways of the real, outer world and giving them the confidence they need to survive in the world as an individual.
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