When the twins turned 18, we cut them off. Off of chores, that is. Instead of children, they were now roommates; we weren't going to tell them what to do. They no longer had chores, and we were no longer going to pay them for doing them. Yet, that didn't stop my purely phenomenal twins from doing the right thing anyway.
Raising Adults
Our job as parents is not to raise children who remain dependent on us for everything well into adulthood. Our job as parents is to raise adults, to raise functional members of society who take all of the life lessons we imparted to them for nearly a generation and apply those lessons to daily life. Indeed, I can proudly say that we have raised adults.
Why My Twins Rock
Without being asked, without being told, the girls continue to help around the house daily. They clean the kitchen, they do the dishes, they dust, they sweep, they mop, they vacuum, and they do it all without complaint, and without asking for anything in return. They know that by living at home for these first two years of college that they aren't entitled to anything, and they are more than willing to put in their fair share of the work to keep our house up and running -- without letting all of that burden fall to yours truly. That is evident to me every time I see an empty sink, fresh vacuum marks on the floor and freshly dusted furniture. I have to say that (as kids go) mine rock.
But Even More than That
As the girls transitioned from headstrong teens into young adulthood, our relationship has undergone a beautiful paradigm shift. We are more friends now than we are parent and child. And even though I sometimes plug my ears and hum "Mary Had a Little Lamb" as my 18-year-old regales about her latest "50 Shades" chapter, I can honestly say that I have taught them everything I know -- which isn't much. But even more than that, I can say that my daughters are ready to march forward into life, fully prepared to be functioning adults who I can count on to do the right thing, even when it isn't asked of them.
I Nominate the Twins for Kids Of the Year...Seriously
I nominate my twins for kids of the year because they categorically deserve it. For having been raised by a teenage mother, they know about hard times, lean months and how to surpass difficulty and rise above. They know the value of family, our family. And I wouldn't have it any other way. If my life resembled a "50 Shades" book in any way, mine would be titled "50 Shades of Blessed."
What makes your kids rock?
Shauna Zamarripa is an author, freelance columnist, blogger and proud mother of three. When she isn't scribing something in the virtual realm, she is playing with her kids, enjoying time with her family and blogging her little heart out. Check out more of her ramblings on her personal site, Miss Adventures, her top-notch financial advice on Penny Pinchers or follow her daily dose of snark on Facebook or Twitter.
