It is worth it...really it is!

My DD is 6 years old.  The perfect age to start practicing and helping with some household tasks that she has only watched me do before.  For example, she is learning how to use a sharp knife to cut vegetables and cheese.  She loves it and is doing a great job.  She is milking one of our goats almost by herself.  She is sorting and folding some of the laundry without direct supervision.  It is great.  I enjoy watching her learn new things and she enjoys having new responsibilities and privileges. 

Tonight, though, I learned that there will be bobbles in the process.  Here is the story:  We are going to visit my Grandma on Friday and will be gone for a week so we are in the process of doing laundry before our trip.  We sorted and DD did a great job of getting things where they needed to go, then I realized that the shorts I was wearing needed to be washed so that they could go on the trip with us to.  I changed and gave them to DD to put in the washer.  I even talked her through how to do it, "make sure you lift the lid and get the shorts down in the washer."  So I thought we were in good shape.  She was proud that I had allowed her to lift the lid to add something to the wash and I was proud of her for helping out with a good attitude (always a big deal around our house!). 

Well, when the load was finished I went and opened up the washer.  The shorts were right on top...where they had stayed for the whole load...on top of the lint trap with multiple holes torn in them by the agitator.  How frustrating.  I finally found some shorts that I loved.  They lasted a week and a half. 

I was very upset for about two minutes, till I realized that DD had sorted and done everything I asked with a good attitude.  It is not about the ruined shorts, it is about learning how to do laundry.  I showed her what had happened and with a smile on my face was able to tell her that it was OK.  Just don't forget to pull the the lint trap next time!  I doubt she will ever forget!  I am writing about this not to pat myself on the back but rather to remind myself later of the self-controlled, secure way that I handled the situation.  It was a good lesson.  It is possible to react calmly and turn frustration into a loving lesson.  Some day when DD is doing laundry for herself I will be able to look back on this frustration and think of how blessed I am to have the privilege of teaching my DD how to do laundry...even at the cost of my favorite shorts!