Parents Should Understand Drudgery Builds Character

Which of these do you associate with good character—a person sitting down and diligently completing a menial task, or someone who sits down, complains about the task ahead of them, and takes frequent aimless breaks?

Well, most would choose option one, and this may be because drudgery builds character. When we’re raising our kids, it’s important that we let them gain experience with boring tasks so they will be equipped to endure these tasks in the future with grace and character.

How Enduring Through Drudgery Builds Character in Kids

There are many things in life that we would call drudgery. They are boring, long, difficult, and tedious, but they must be done—things like taxes, painting the house, washing clothes, shoveling snow, or cleaning out our cars.

When was the last time you actually required your kids to do something that they—and even you—would describe as drudgery? I don’t think many parents allow their kids to endure much drudgery anymore.

In his classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes that how we respond to drudgery is the touchstone of our character.

So, consider allowing Junior to experience a little drudgery. It not only will be good for his character, but also his body and brain.

Picture Provided by: oddharmonic