[Jypzi]

Need some input on if I'm jumping the gun here or not ...

We have three kids at home (daughter, 13, is currently on the truck having daddy/daughter time, sons, 7 and 5).

It takes an act of Congress to get the daughter to do anything beyond recharging her mp3 player, but in a pinch she does help out... my concern is with the boys.

Mr. 7 found out last time DH was home, that he's heavy enough to keep the riding lawn mower going, and so has this new fetish of wanting to cut the grass, while Mr. 5 loooooves to get hold of the lower bar on the push mower in front of me while I'm cutting.

Am I being dumb in letting the boys help me with this? Are they still too young? My mother had a proverbial heart attack when she found out that Mr. 7 tore off across the back yard on the big rider (blades weren't active though, so it was more like a go-cart ride for him!)

When DH is able to be home, he spends a lot of time out in the yard, grilling, working on his project pickup, cleaning and re-cleaning his workshop, and both boys are right up in it with him, getting all gross and greasy (Mr. 7 even helped put in the new starter on the project pick up two weeks ago!)

What are your thoughts? At what age should you start letting the boys be boys, and try some bigger chores (with excellent supervision, of course!)