Our Little House Elf

When I was a little girl I remember someone telling me a story about a little elf.  This little elf lived in this house with a family.  I want to say a wizard or a witch lived in the house or something, but I really don't remember that part of the story.  What I do remember is that this little elf used to cook, clean, and mend for fun.

We have our own little elf in the house.  She loves to clean (as long as it's not her room).  She enjoys helping in the kitchen.  She wants to learn to mend some day.  We're a very lucky house to be blessed with our own little elf!  It's such a joy to have one!

Who is this little house elf?  It's my daughter!  While she throws a royal fit when it's time to clean her room, she can't wait to clear the table and set it for dinner.  She's excited to sweep the floor.  She's thrilled at the idea of any little act of housekeeping.  It's funny how something an adult can see as a chore ends up being great fun to a child!  She looks at it as being very helpful, which she likes because being helpful makes everyone happy.

Again, this is kind of a revisit on that whole chore thing.  This is yet one more reason I think it's important for children to take part in keeping after the home.  If she can learn to love keeping house for the joy of it, she'll never tire of it.  It will always be something she can do because it brings happiness to those she shares her home with.

Some day our little house elf will go on to keep her own home, blessing it each and every day with a bright smile as she sweeps the floor and washes the dishes.  Cleaning her home makes her happy, and she loves the effect it has on everyone.  That's a gift she'll carry with her for the rest of her life!