He's Becoming a Giver

Many days it feels like the majority of my communication with Joshua begins by him asking, "Can I have...?", "Will you take me...?", "Will you get me...?" or in some other way asking for something.

Yet, when I have asked him to do something to help me around the house, my request has usually been met with scoffing, pouting, or simple refusal.
Such that I began responding to his requests in a different way. I began saying, "You know, Joshua, you're very good at asking for things to be done for you, but not so good at doing things for other people. You need to work on giving, not just taking." And, for the longest time, it seemed like my words went in one of his ears, and right out the other.
Fellow moms, you know what I mean, right?

In the past week or two I have noticed something happening in Joshua. Sometimes he opens his mouth and starts to ask a question, but then stops.
One day when he did this stop-mid-ask-thing, he proceeded to ask me if there was anything around the house I needed done. Well, yeah!
I told him the floor needed to be swept and washed. And he did it!
Then I told him there was some cleaning which was needed in his(!) bathroom. And he did that, too. Without complaining.
Then my son asked me if there was anything else I wanted him to do! (I couldn't come up with anything. I think I was too much in shock. *wink*)

At a loss for what else to say, Brian and I asked Joshua what was going on.
He said, "I'm becoming a giver."

Be still my heart!