Tiffany looked around the woods.  The shadows were growing longer, but they didn’t worry her.  Bits of Miss Tick’s teachings floated through her head:  Always face what you fear.  Have just enough money, never too much, and some string.  Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your responsibility.  Witches deal with things.  Never stand between two mirrors.  Never cackle.  Do what you must do.  Never lie, but you don’t always have to be honest.  Never wish.  Especially don’t wish upon a star, which is astronomically stupid.  Open your eyes, and then open your eyes again.

-A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

I never got into the Disc World Series.  I thought it was ok but it never hooked me the way some series do.  So imagine my surprise when I picked up The Wee Free Men and couldn’t put it down!  Mr. Pratchett has written a sub-series in his Disc World for young adults, and I adore them.  Adore!  This quote is from the second book and it caught my eye because I’m constantly battling the kids over one particular thing.  Being Responsible.  You have no idea how hard this is to grind into their stubborn little brains.

“Leina, you need to clean up the toys over there,”  I’ll say.

“But I didn’t play with them.  That’s not my mess.  Why do I have to to do it?  Kulia should do it.  She was playing with them!” is the reply.  Said in the most whiny, disgusting voice ever.

Where do my girls get the idea that if they didn’t do it, it isn’t their responsibility???  They will spend 20 minutes arguing about who made what mess instead of spending the 2.5 seconds required to just clean it up!  Why is this?  Why?  I know plenty to grown ups with this attitude as well and these are the people I avoid like the plague.  Not my fault, not my problem.  It’s a horrible, self-centered, greedy, and egotistical way to live your life.  (Can you tell this is a major issue for me?)   I have managed to quash “it’s not fair” from this house.  Next on my list is “but I didn’t do it, why do I have to fix it?”  How, you ask?  I’m not quite sure but don’t worry, I will find a way.  Oh yes, I will find a way.

Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your responsibility.