Today’s giving: Cleaned with the kids so Mom could come home to a pretty kitchen.

The language of giving.

This morning when I asked my daughter to do her chore, the dishes, I got the usual response. Sulking, pouting, the banging of dishes.

After she finished, I asked if anyone wanted to help Mom by cleaning the rest of the kitchen. Pouty daughter didn’t volunteer.

But after a few minutes, pouty daughter stopped sulking and started watching the action. Pretty soon, with nothing further said, pouty daughter was cleaning the sink with a brush and cleaner. We worked together until the kitchen was cleaned.

I don’t think that its incorrect to say that how I asked her to clean was important. When I asked/told her to do her chore, all she could focus on was the work. When I asked who wanted to help Mom by cleaning the kitchen, I put the emphasis on giving to Mom. The results were better.

Your attitude toward giving changes with the language you use. It also helps if Dad works with you.