Sharing the JOY of chores!

I wrote this e-mail/blog to the author of the MOST awsome book...
A Mother's Rule of Life, by Holly Pierlot.
I was so touched by it that I went to her fantastic web site and had to leave my comment. My friend Christine gave me this book because she read it and was so affected by it. My girlfriend Janet then read it, and then I sent a copy to her sister (and my dear friend) Shelly, and to my sister Erin.
This book is beautiful, I HIGHLY recommend it. :)

Dear Holly,

I'm the oldest of 6, and my mother didn't involve me in "official" chores until I was in about 6th grade. I was responsible for my personal hygiene (she'd tell me when to bathe, up until about 5th grade), and making my bed and keeping my room tidy...but I was not asked or taught to be a contributing member of the household in any other way. I believe, looking back, that she had her hands full with my 5 younger siblings, and was just chugging along doing everything herself. You know, she was in "survival mode." I was SO old by the time that she decided I should be cleaning (6th grade)the bathroom, doing the dinner dishes, etc...and my intro to all of it was with her built up years of over-work and frustration. It seemed like a punishment to me, and that set the tone for all the following years of power struggles with her over chores. I was introduced to domestic chores with a spirit of anger, and it never left! As a married mother of 2 (6&5), I was determined that I would not make the same mistake. The children are so thrilled to help me, give them a dust rag and they are in heaven! Allow them to push the vacuum with me, oh forget about it...they are beaming. I realized that honoring our home together could be a great joy. After reading your book, I realized that a bit of my mothers resentful attitude would creep into my actions though. Reading what you wrote confirmed for me that the gift of chores is that it's one more way I can externally express my love for my precious husband and children. Despite knowing, and really believing this, if my daugher would come over while I was folding laundry and say, "How are you doing, Mama?" I'd sigh and say..."I'm okayyyy..." in the most put-upon, unconvincing manner. My external reactions were like a language I'd learned long ago, that weren't really reflective of my interior attitude. I'm learning to stay on my toes and keep aware of what I'm communicating with my voice and my face. Now I work to show the children that I love caring for our home because I love our family and God, I love my vocation. I share the joy of it all by joining with them in the care of our cozy, humble abode. Thanks you for your beautiful, inspired, blessed book.
Peace~in Christ,
Brigid