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I have a dd 13 and ds 14, neither is great in the chores dept.
When they were younger, I used to have one of those chore charts, with the little stars, points, rewards, etc. well, it never really worked.
At this age, those charts are too babish, anyways. I simply made out a chore chart, with simple chores, like clean toilet, polish mirror, sweep floor, etc, with no score keeping, rewards, etc. I hung it in the hallway. I told them its up to them, just pick something and do it, I wasn't keeping score.
It works! I see them sometimes looking at the chart, then doing a simple, ten-minute task. We do hire a cleaning service 2x month for the heavy stuff, but if everyone does their part in the meantime, well......it helps.
I think they appreciate not being nagged at, and I appreciate the little things that truly do add up. After all, why should I be the only one to do all the little chores, they live here, too. also, I never criticize, practice makes perfect. If the mirror has streaks, or the dishes aren't put back in their "place" well, at least it shows me they're trying.
Sometimes, less is more. The less I nag, the more they do. We all need to hit our stride, this way lets them find their way while knowing what is expected of them without being nagged at.
I also find that it works to just have everyone help out when help is needed. My kids don't have assigned tasks but they are expected to help as needed. We don't fight over stuff and I get what I need.
I have read on here about hiring cleaning service for the heavy stuff. What is considered heavy? Maybe my house is not as clean as I thought.
I keep the kitchen floors swept since I cook there but once a week my housekeeper sweeps/mops the entire house (we have marble floors). She vacuums the rooms with carpet. She scrubs the bathroom, dusts, etc.
We still clean the kitchen on a daily basis and keep the bathrooms neat but she deep cleans the other stuff. We take out our garbage and wipe down the bathroom surfaces but we don't deep clean those areas. You can hire someone to just do the things you don't want to do.
Good. I just always made Friday night clean your room night, or Mama would come clean it with you on Saturday. And everyone was busy, in their room, cleaning it Friday afterschool. For some reason, they did not like getting up at 6 am on Saturday Morning, to work together cleaning up, it was such a wonderful bonding time for me, we could pick up all the clothes together, and sing songs, and play my favorite Barney music on the CD, "Clean UP, Clean UP, EVERYONE DO THEIR SHARE"...oh...for some reason they only wanted my help once or twice after age 8...I wonder why???
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