No work and all play

Do you remember this scene? "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." I've got two little boys here who feel the same way. And, to my knowledge, they have never seen The Shining.

So, then, what causes the love of playing to override the need for hard work? Is it just an innate feeling? Is it learned? Where does it come from? 

Let me be honest... they hate work. Anything that is remotely like work. In fact, it is more like a nails-on-the-chalkboard screeching kind of look we get sometimes when they find out they need to do something other than play. This includes school work, cleaning, grocery shopping (oh, how they hate this one), among a few others.

Now, before you jump down my throat -- yes, they are kids so they will LOVE to play. But, as much as they LOVE to play, they HATE to work. 

Damian - the little smarty - politely told his teacher "no thank you" to the worksheet she handed out to the class. He wanted to play, not work - so why on earth would he accept the worksheet, right? At least he was polite about it. Unfortunately, he was very devastated when he learned he couldn't be rewarded with free play time because he didn't do his work!  

It has almost become a mantra in our house now that "work comes before play." Chores and homework need to be done before they can even look at a toy or consider touching a game. Its been a slow process, but we will get there. Baby steps. 

Here is what I think about so often. These boys are truly awesome (and by now you should agree). They are so smart and witty -- and can build incredible Lego machines quicker than I can scream from stepping on one. Imagine - just for a moment - what can be accomplished by such talent and dedication if the same energy that was applied to playing becomes applied to work? What great things they will do one day! I just know it.