-yep, one of those things you probably heard growing up, too. And so far, I've used it only once, as it ended up with a lecture on different forms of government (kids are 8, 6, and 3). But yesterday as we were cleaning house I got a great peek into a social studies lesson. And I've got to document it here for when the kids are actually old enough that we can use it as an object lesson.

 I was vacuuming our stairs. The kids are trying to finish their housework so they can go play. We had clothes mysteriously jump out of the dirty hamper all by themselves and they were contesting with each other over who should pick them up. I told them in no uncertain terms that none of them were going out to play until they were picked up and to' work it out among themselves in a fair way'. I went back to vacuuming. A few moments later, as my head was seeing over the top of the stairs I saw something that cracked me up. They had definitely found a way to make the job fair...did I say efficient? nope...

All three were in a single file line in front of the hamper. The person in front would pick up one piece of clothing, toss it into the basket, and go to the back of the line. They did this quietly, and I think they actually enjoyed it. I have my guess that the middle child (bonnetgirl) came up with this one, I'll have to ask.

...one day the idea of efficiency, initiative, and self-sacrifice will kick in. And one day they'll be old enough for mom to pull this story out of her bag of tricks and say, " This isn't a Socialist Republic, either!"