Imagine your child wants to head outside with friends, but you’ve requested that they finish their chores first—let’s say, doing the dishes. They comply, but upon inspection, you find remnants of food still sticking to the plates they “washed.” You’re faced with a choice: either complete the task yourself out of frustration or call them back to the sink and say, “This isn’t good enough.” At my home, I often find myself adopting the latter approach, earning the reputation of the strictest mom around.
This is rooted in one of my core parenting principles: I refuse to let my children put forth half-hearted efforts in anything they do. Whether it’s a hastily cleaned bathroom or a poorly composed essay, I give it a quick thumbs-down unless it meets the standard I know they can achieve. Sure, I could easily finish their chores for them, but what lesson does that teach? It sends the message that effort doesn’t matter and that someone else will always pick up the slack for them. I’m not here to enable a mindset of minimal effort.
Now, I’m not talking about situations where my kids are learning something new; we all know there’s a learning curve, and I’m more than happy to be patient with rookie mistakes. However, once they understand what’s expected and have the capability to meet that expectation, there’s absolutely no excuse for anything less than a certain standard. If they’ve rushed through a task or taken shortcuts, then guess what? They get to do it again—this time, the right way.
This can become challenging, as kids often lack motivation when it comes to chores and schoolwork and frequently test boundaries. They are not shy about expressing their displeasure when I ask them to redo something. While it’s not fun to listen to the whining and sulking, I remind myself that I’m doing this for their benefit. If I don’t encourage them to push themselves, why would they ever choose to work hard?
One day in their future, they’ll encounter someone—a professor, a supervisor, or a demanding coach—who will expect their best. If they’ve become accustomed to doing the bare minimum, they will face a rude awakening. By insisting they give their best now, I’m teaching them that it’s not acceptable to deliver subpar work and rely on others to compensate for their lack of effort. That attitude won’t serve them well and could hinder their potential.
I know my children are bright and capable, and by setting high expectations, I’m equipping them with a critical life skill. Doing something right the first time can save them a lot of work later. They don’t have to be perfect, but I expect them to give their all. Even if their efforts fall short, I can distinguish between genuine attempts and laziness.
I don’t demand perfection from my kids, but I do require effort—whatever their best may be. They’ve understood this from a young age, which is why my 8-year-old recently told me he “put in 100%” on a school project. Perhaps I should adopt that as my new mantra: it’s always better to give your best than to simply skate by.
For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out this post on our blog. Additionally, if you’re looking for comprehensive information on artificial insemination techniques, visit Make a Mom. Also, ASRM offers excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, I believe that fostering a strong work ethic in children is essential. By not allowing them to settle for mediocrity, I am preparing them for the future and helping them realize their full potential.