When Taryn and John were six they started doing chores. They would clear the table, feed the cat, and help put away the dishes. Dallas and I always say that we had to go after them and redo everything. Even with the extra work it was worth it. Taryn and John still do chores. They clear the table and dry the dishes. They deal with the trash and the recycling. They feed the dog and pick up the poop. This is all in addition to dealing with their personal stuff like keeping their bedrooms clean and putting away their laundry.
It was probably the best parenting decision we ever made.
With the twinkies we have given up completely on parenting. The twinkies are only four and they don’t do chores. We try to get them to pick up their toys. It usually winds up with one of us sitting on the floor of their bedroom saying something like this:
“Pick up the legos…pick up the legos…pick up the legos by the bed…pick up the blue lego by the foot of your bed. Pick up the blue lego by the foot of the bed. Pick up the blue lego by the foot of your bed and put it in the bin. Ok, now pick up the green lego.”
It’s really a wonder that my liver is still functioning at all.
Tonight we asked them to pick up the toys from the living room and they actually did it. It was amazing. There was not one toy on the floor. Then I looked under the TV and saw a bunch of matchbox cars.
I said, “There are cars under the TV.”
Reese said, “Yeah, we put all the stuff underneath!”
He was very proud of himself.
They had shoved all the toys under the TV, the couches, and the chair.
They think we’re idiots.
Dallas knelt down and told Reese, “You need to focus, ok? You need to focus. Do you know what focus means?”
“Yes!”
“What does it mean?”
“NOFING!!!!”
It doesn’t mean anything to me either. Not anymore.
Keep trying, they’ll get there. Don’t give up! They are just young. My Mom taught me how to do my own laundry before I was a teen. I am horrified when I encounter young “adults” who don’t know how to do laundry and dare to take it home for Mom to do. And don’t get me started on the girl I met a few years ago who was over 18 years old and didn’t know how to BOIL WATER to make a cup of tea.
Ugh! I know! I hate when teenagers don’t know how to do things. We’ll keep on it, it’s just stressful:)
LOL. My 5 1/2 year old is just now getting to be decent about picking up toys. It used to be a battle that resulted in one or both of us crying. Now she’s gotten into “organizing,” so she’ll tackle her room with that in mind.
You just have to keep trying as Richelle says. They’ll get there!
Thanks, I’m on it:)
Does leaving trash and shoes and books all over the house count as chores? If so, then Gabe is AWESOME at getting chores done.
Well then, Gabe is AWESOME!
Last night, on a whim, Noah James decided to wash the dishes. He was ecstatic about it. Joe is the cook, I am the dishwasher. It’s funny, cuz if Joe’s an ass for whatever reason, he will start washing the dishes before I can even take a breath and that’s my way of knowing he knows he was wrong. I was very frustrated last night for a plethora of reasons (damned old-ass gramparents and their constant aches and pains) and Noah sensed this and got up to help his mom. I haven’t checked his work yet, but then again I’M not the cook, so let that be Joe’s problem.
1. Noah is great.
2. I cook, Dallas does the dishes. When I’m pissed off at him I start doing them just to piss him off. It is both passive aggressive and stupid.
Let me tell you, I almost spat coffee on my laptop this was so hilarious! I think the current four-year olds are the future tyrants of the world. My mother calls my four-year old “The Dictator.”
We call them “Satan and his little friend.”
My 4 year old is resisting chores with all her strength. Mommy is very, very tired.
Me too. I think hiring a housekeeper would work for me.
Kate is a lot better about chores (even when she was younger) than Maddie is. I can totally see how that happens.
Is Kate older? I think I’ve just given up a little with the younger guys. Lame parenting.
Legos deserve high priority on the list of chores. Have you ever stepped on one? The pain is incredible!
Oh yes, I’ve felt the lego pain! I actually wrote about it a while back!! http://twinisms.com/2011/05/11/theyre-out-to-get-us/
Woman ! You crack me up !
You know it was your complaint on lego and other toys that led me to your awesome blog. So, in a way…you owe it to Lego
My wife and I don’t EVER read stuff out loud to each other. And I just read this out loud to her. We are both laughing… We have identical twin boys age 5, and this is it. We have also given up o parenting them… we just sigh and pick up the freaking legos.
I think giving up on parenting is really the best choice, for all concerned parties.
[...] Focusing On Chores [...]