What I learn from 'The car wash or wash the car' dilemma.

As I was driving the car from the kids kindy, I told them that the car desperately needs a bath. So, I asked them whether should we go to the car wash place or wash the car together. I was hoping for the earlier option since I know that a bucket full of laundry was waiting for me at home.

Alwani was the first one to respond, "Wash car, please!! Boleh main air!" Al Fateh agreed, "Team work Ummi! That'll be fun. And we won't have to waste time waiting for the boys to wash our car. We can exercise!" (Please note that the phrases and words like, team work, waste time, fun and exercise, are courtesy of Barney and Hi-5).
And so, the decision was made, after our afternoon tea, armed with a bucket and three 'good morning' towels, the children washed the car (and themselves) in a way that super-clean parents should not witness. Yes, I'm a parent who doesn't mind the kids being grimy and gritty because alhamdulillah, I have a washing machine.

What I learn from the simple question of 'the car wash or wash the car?' was that as parents, we should allow our children to know that they have options in life. And not just that, we have the responsibility to guide them on how to weigh the options. It's a skill that we need in life. And as a mom (who has the full power in my hand for a week while my husband is away) I can actually vetoed the decision and sing poetically "I'll do it my wayyyy" and send the car to the car wash, but this will teach my children that the decision (and the process of weighing the options) that they did were worthless.

At the end of the day, the mission was accomplished. A clean car with a bonus: two smiles and a frown (Yusuf wanted to suck his soapy good morning towel, and I took it away!).

We did all the stuff that Barney and Hi-5 taught us: team work, exercise, not wasting time (questionable) and have fun. And the neighbours had to endure our wonderful Barney tunes;

I love you,
You love me,
We are a happy family,
with a great big hug
and a kiss from me to you,
Won't you say
You love me too!