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I have created this “I am Responsible for Me” Printable for teaching kids responsibility because of recent events in our home. My kids have not only been forgetting things, but they have decided to blame me when their responsibilities are not met. “Oh no,” says this mama. “You are responsible for you.”
My kids are 7, 8 and 10 now. They are perfectly capable of knowing what needs to happen and making sure they have accomplished it. Teaching kids responsibility has been an important part of my character development series and also an important part of raising kids in general. Apparently, it is time for a bit of a refresher around here.
I spent some time listening to a parenting video put out by my mentors, the Pritchards of Axis Ministries. Discovering the single best indicator of my child’s future success through their video teaching was a great reminder of what we want to be growing in our kids. Responsibility definitely plays into the character trait they discuss in the video.
Let me share with you my morning story.
We try and pack our lunches the night before so it’s an easy morning process. Here’s my trick for making that happen, and yes, I have my kids pack their own lunches. It’s all a part of the responsibility thing I’m trying to grow in them.
This is how this morning went down: My alarm went off, and I woke up. One child was up and basically ready to go, so I let her watch some television. Her bag was packed, and her lunch was in her bag. She had also made herself breakfast. The other two were not awake yet, so I woke them up. I came back downstairs to make them breakfast.
One child came down and proceeded to dress. I hollered up to the other to make sure she was up. “Yes,” she confirmed. Just for future reference, my dear child, “up” means feet on the ground getting ready – not just no longer in slumber-land. I wish I had clarified that earlier because this child was not really up at all. 15 minutes until carpool comes, and I need to holler up again, only to learn she is not in fact up or getting ready.
Because the television was on, child number 2 that had come down was immediately distracted and wanted to get all of his stuff done so he could watch. I had left him his breakfast and went into my room.
Meanwhile, the third child emerged from upstairs. Her breakfast had been made, so all she had to do is eat it and have her things in her bag, which I reminded her to do. She was in a rotten mood and was taking it out on everyone, so I let her know she can no longer talk until she leaves the house but needed to do two things: pack her bag and eat breakfast.
Five to ten minutes pass, and I hear my oldest yell, “Carpool is here.” I say goodbye from my bedroom (which is right off the main living space) and hear the kids scramble to get out the door.
My daughter that had been late to come down and late to eat and late to get out the door came back in and proceeded to get mad AT ME. She scrambled to grab a couple things. She angrily said it is my fault they are running late for the carpool because I went back into my room. She then ran out the door. Oh no, you did not.
I called my friend who is driving carpool and had her put my daughter on the phone. There is a brief lecture, and I asked her to apologize to everyone, including our carpool driver. A consequence will be coming after school for her behavior.
As I looked around once I went into the kitchen I realized my son’s homework page and reading books weren’t packed. He rushed through breakfast to watch TV, so he barely ate. My child, the one who was blaming me for everything this morning, had left her homework planner, blue behavior notebook that I had signed (5 points off now) and another signed paper on the table.
Responsibility? Not so much. This isn’t the first time homework or signed papers have been left behind, even though there have been multiple reminders to take them. Lunches have been forgotten. “Do you have homework?” has been answered with, “No,” until bedtime when they say, “Oh. I do have homework.”
I do not want to micromanage them (although I must admit I do sometimes).
I cannot be their rescuer.
If I do everything for them, they won’t learn to do it themselves.
Sometimes letting them fail is what will bring out their own motivation to take responsibility.
No, I won’t bring your lunch to school. No, I won’t bring your papers to school. You said your goal is to be a straight A student. YOU have to make that happen. I am your mom, and I am absolutely here for homework help and to support you, but baby, you gotta have your own wings. It would be a disservice if I clipped them by controlling your every move.
OK, yes, I was using a little screen time as a motivator to get them moving in the morning. I am often right on top of them, making sure everything has been checked off to approve screen time. Not anymore. I have to take that privilege away for a bit.
As a mom, I want to give them the tools and resources to be successful in this area of responsibility. Therefore, I made a “I am Responsible for Me” Printable for Teaching Kids Responsibility.
Making it available to you too is what I do at Meaningful Mama. My goal is to come alongside you – to relate, to share and to equip. If you think this responsibility printable would be helpful for your family, just download it for free and print it to hang up for the kids.
There is a responsibility sheet for morning, afternoon and evening. These are basic responsibilities that elementary age kids and up should be able to accomplish somewhat independently (or course special circumstances sometimes apply for some kids).
Rather than nagging, I will just point to the list. Is all that done? If they are not getting things done, privileges will have to be taken away until they can show they are growing in this area.
I love my kids, and I want to see them succeed. I am not here to do it for them. I have here to equip them. These signs are part of that.
