Comments on: Children and Chores

By: Erederic

Erederic — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:22:07 +0000

really good article…

I have spent a bit of time going through your posts, more than I should have but I must say, http://delaineaa.blog.mugensite.net/2011/07/19/there-are-affluence-of-types-of-womens-hats-but-as-a-actualization-babe-you-accept-to-apperceive-how-to-acquirem…

By: kander

kander — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:21:55 +0000

Greate…

It’s such a great site! http://www.thoughts.com/briawfjenkins/bill-gaytten-steps-out-of-the-shadow-at-galliano Great post, I just bookmarked it on Digg….

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:31:38 +0000

LT. You are so right. Oddly enough, moms end up doing more harm than good in the long run by “over-servicing” their kids. It’s important to teach them that you matter–that you’re not a servant, that they have responsibilities as members of a household, and that while you love them dearly, you are also human and deserve your own time-outs!

By: L.T.

L.T. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:04:08 +0000

I gradually decided that having healthy pride in taking care of my own home,being neat,(most of the time…)& preferring it to look neat,& cooking the majority of the time can take its toll on me,and cause lethargy(preferring not to say “laziness”) on others. While most of my children help me occasionally,it’s usually after I have asked them many times,and after I sound as if Iam hounding them.The cause,because I was “too nice” in wanting them to have more time for their homework,wanting them to have time to do what they want(their computer games-which is time with their friends,not wanting to be the one to “bother them” so they can be “happy……..I thought since I wasn’t the one bringing in the money,I should be totally,200% of the time be working at home,…& many times was exhausted when they came home.

Well,that recently changed. I decided I should acquire enough “strict compassion” to encourage them to do what they should do because they are also members of the family,they live here too,& they should do an equal amount of housework too.It’s that simple.It changed,because when they leave a dish in another room after eating(not in the kitchen for example) I do not immediately bring it back into the kitchen and wash it for them,they(the children),now must bring it back themselves,and wash it themselves. If they come home after school & toss their jacket or shoes somewhere, they must later pick their own jacket up and put it back neatly where it should be(in the closet or their own rooms) When they assume Iam a “maid” to their beck and call,I started leaving their laundry in their rooms.Soon enough,a time came when they needed clothes to wear,and food to eat,& learned to appreciate things that were done for them. I still need to nag,but appreciation,even a little,comes when they have learned to do the same chores they hadn’t done in the past years! (that includes having take care of them when they were babies,& toddlers too!)

But,I guess my mom will be having a big laugh in heaven…after all…….She only had me,& I now have 3xS what she did!

By: Karly Pitman

Karly Pitman — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:34:59 +0000

I sometimes feel like I’m parenting in the dark ages, because of the amount of chores that I expect my children to help with in running our household, compared to other families. I have four children, ages 10 months to 10 years, and aside from the baby, they all have chores. When I talk with other moms, even moms with multiple children like myself, it’s obvious that my family is the anomaly. I find such comfort when I find other families who expect their children to help with chores, so I appreciate your post and bringing this subject up for dialogue.

I look at chores and household management as everyone’s responsibilty. Who ever said that being a mother implied taking on all of this work, solo? My children fuss and moan regularly about chores, but, honestly, so do I sometimes: there are many nights when I groan about cooking another meal. I keep reminding my children that it’s important that everyone pitches in and share the work, just as well all share the fun and the rewards. I also remind them that they don’t have to like their chores, although accepting them makes for an easier time, for their own sake.

I want to raise children who can not only think for themselves, but also take care of themselves. And even if they leave home and have a cleaning service and other household support, which I believe is perfectly acceptable, it’s still important to know how to do things yourself.