Quality Time in the Garden

Our raised garden beds were a bit of a mess this spring. Last summer had been so “busy” that I had neglected the maintenance and not only missed out on a good harvest last fall, but I also created a lot of work for myself this year. That got to me thinking that maybe I could use this mistake to my advantage. I’m starting to see that opportunities for quality time with my kids don’t always have to entail spending time and money entertaining them.

I gave the kids notice, weeks in advance, that we would have to get some work done during spring break, so they knew the expectation. My children, like most, don’t love chores, but I find that if I set the expectations early, I end up receiving less drama and complaining when it comes time to pick up the shovel. I had also took them with me to buy the plants and let them pick out a vegetable or herb that they wanted to incorporate into the garden. This gave them a sense of ownership and responsibility for their plants, which helped to motivate their interest to help.

The day we set aside to work on the garden was a beautiful, sunny day. We got up, ate a good breakfast, filled up our water bottles and headed out. I had already purchased the plants and some organic plant food, so all we had to do was pluck out all the weeds, add in a fresh bag of organic garden soil, and start planting. We also had to pull the weeds that had grown up through the mulch outside the beds and rake the leaves that had fallen during autumn. It was a lot of work, but with my two helpers by my side, it was a good kind of work.

We got tired, sweaty, and a little dirt under our nails, but eventually the work was finished, and we were able to stand back and see the results of our labor. The kids enjoyed seeing the transformation and being a part of something that mattered. Our little garden beds may not seem like much, but I believe it’s much more than just a few tomatoes and onions. It’s time I get to spend with my kids, watching them learn, laugh, and get a little messy. For a couple of hours they forgot about school, TV, and video games, and were able to breathe the fresh air as they relaxed in the wonder of God’s creation. I would even say they had a little fun.

What begins as work, ends up being an opportunity to dig for worms, look for uniquely shaped rocks, and play with the water hose. As long as the work gets done, why not squeeze in a little playtime? I think you’d be surprised how many opportunities for fun you can find in the everyday tasks around your home and property. Why not take advantage of every opportunity we have to find something good – something that makes us smile? Isn’t life too short for anything less?

I’d love to know how your family works together! Are there any chores you take advantage of to spend quality time with your family? How do you make chores fun for your kids?