Contribute

My 15 year old daughter cleaned up the kitchen and offered to make dinner all while feeling exhausted.  She said she felt like she needed to contribute.  Where did she get that?

I appreciate and am amazed by her responsibility and willingness to be helpful, but she was doing it while not taking care of herself.  I was thankful for the opportunity to tell her that she has to make sure she is healthy. She has her own list of things to do each day.  Among them is listening to her body and taking care of herself. It won't hurt if the dishes don't get done because you don't feel well.

I didn't hear the phrase, "take care of yourself" enough at her age to believe it was really what I was supposed to do.  It was what people said, but they meant, "work harder." I'm thankful I can speak these words to her.  Even though it will still probably take her many years to practice them, I'm glad these are the things she is hearing now.