Teaching Children Responsibility

I’m all about teaching my children to be productive, responsible people in the real world. I’m very self sufficient and expect others to be too. It’s not always the case.

I know people who are over 25, living on their own, and still have to have their mother make their doctor’s appointments. Really people? This is not teaching them any responsibility, which is a huge problem with the world today.

For example, my child has an appointment every few weeks. She usually has to leave school a few minutes early so she will need a note to get the absence excused. Since I’m normally at work during these appointments, my mom or grandma takes her (which I highly appreciate!) Two times in a row, she forgot to ask the the office for a school excuse slip. The first time, I called and got the note and took care of everything. The second time, I called yet again to get the note.

Then it happened again. Three times in a row. I was so annoyed at this point. I’m sure the doctor’s office was annoyed too and had it noted in their chart somewhere – haha. I didn’t get mad, though. I decided it was time for her to take care of it herself.

I told her she was going to have to call the doctor’s office and take care of this herself. I did have to explain in detail everything to say and the number to call. She was nervous but she agreed. She did it all by herself at fourteen years old, which is better than some adults in their twenties that I know.

Guess what….she hasn’t forgotten to get that note again when she is actually in the office since she had to get it on her own!