The Joy of Older Children
Posted By Melissa on May 14, 2010
I was sitting here thinking about what I’m Lovin’ this week, and I was glancing around me. What am I Lovin’??
I looked in the kitchen. There stood my almost 12-year-old, home from the commissary (grocery store), making me us some brookies.
At the age of 10, our children get their own military ID cards, and can then shop at the military stores. We live within walking distance to the commissary, and I am very blessed to have a child who has the confidence and ability to walk down and shop for my brookie ingredients for food.
Starting at an earlier age, I take the children with me grocery shopping. First we just shop together, talking about where things are found, what each item is. It’s just a natural part of shopping. As they get older, and I have trust in their ability and focus, I give them a portion of my shopping list and let them off on their own. I teach them how to pay using my ATM card and how to talk to the salespeople.
And the training pays off when the child can go into the store for me. This is very handy when we just need a couple things and I want to stop off real quick on the way home from somewhere. Samantha jumps out of the van and runs in, purchases the items, and comes back out. There is no need to remove everyone from the van and trek everyone inside. The older child, in this case, Samantha, can handle the task by herself.
And now she’s in the kitchen cooking. Something she also loves to do and is really good at! I love watching her increase her skills in the kitchen. I’m lovin’ having an older child (again…since Kayla moved out last year!).
I also love little girls with Nutella all over their faces!
Linking up with Tidy Mom for her weekly I’m Lovin’ It Fridays!
I love having older kids! I have three teenage stepsons that are very independent. They can do their own laundry (when forced
mow the lawn, and help their dad make dinner. And I’m sure they’re actually capable of cleaning their rooms, but I’ve yet to witness it 
I noticed you live in 29 Palms. I live in San Bernardino, in the same desert
Pretty soon we’ll be sweating in 100°+ heat; I’m enjoying the nice weather while I can.
I’m such a chicken when it comes to sending my daughter into the store. She does make us food though. Some day, I may let her go to the commissary herself. For now, she’ll go with me. Then again, if I had a bunch of littles in the car, I may feel differently.
lol!
having older kids definitely has its perks!
So sweet! Mine’s not quite old enough to go into the store yet…and maybe doesn’t have that “focus” yet… But, that is a GREAT goal to work towards! Thank you. I haven’t really thought about that, but that will be a great new teaching moment goal. And she will certainly love working towards that independence!