I'm realizing it's really quite easy in today's society for kids to grow up thinking they don't have to go to school, get a job, or carry many responsibilities.  Everywhere one looks, its easy to see people ducking obligations and not doing the right thing to take care of themselves or their families. 

My stepdaughter is no different, I suppose.  She recently heard that a favorite singer of hers never finished high school.  So of course, the nearly 8 year old thinking in her, decided she didn't have to work too hard either.  For  few days in a row, upon being woken up for school, I'd hear the whining  'can't I just miss one day?'  Over and over again, my husband and myself explained to her how important school was, how important working is, taking care of yourself is.  She seems to understand the words, but it was my actions a few weeks later that finally got it to sink in. 

As we were rushing around getting ready for work and school, I was feebleminded, as I usually am in the morning, and started to whine about being tired, not feeling well...all the usual stuff I experience any given morning.   I finally whined to the child waiting by the door " do I have to go to work?" Her answer astounded me.  " yes, you have to go to work, we need a house and you help pay for that with the money you make from work. Besides, the more you work, the more shoes we can buy" Her grinning told me what I needed to hear.  She had gotten our message about responsibilities and motivation loud and clear.

From that moment on, I knew I'd never again hear her not understanding why we wanted her to work hard in school, or waking up in the morning, or being drilled for a spelling test. She understands perfectly well now that some days are harder than others, but it's pushing through them that makes us the responsible people that we are.