New here with a young teen. I have a ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2003
New here with a young teen. I have a ?
13
Thu, 01-24-2008 - 11:13pm

How much do your teens help out around the house? I have always stayed home during the day so I have done most everything for my kids and most of the things are done by the time they get home from school. After dinner, I want my kids to help out and clean up the kitchen with me, but often they groan and leave the room. Then we always tell them to come back and help and usually they do.

I guess it just bothers me because when I was my kids age, my mom worked. I cooked dinner, cleaned the bathroom, dusted the living room, did my own laundry. I do not want this for my kids either, but I do feel that they could help out more.

What are your kids doing around the house? Do you get a lot of complaining when they are asked to do chores?. Input would be appreciated.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 9:35am
Hi and welcome to the board.
Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 10:02am

Hello. I'm a SAHM with 3 school age girls. All of my kids have chores to do. They have to help set & clear the table, unload the dishwasher, take out the trash,& feed the pets. These are just their through the week chores on the weekends they have to tidy their rooms and help out with other small things around the house. We made a chore chart to help everyone stay on task. DH got tired of me doing everything for everybody and said they all had to pitch in around the house. So, we sat down as a family and came up with the chore chart list of things for each of them to do. And, no, they DO NOT like it!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 10:24am

In our home we have a policy of the family working together to help serve and meet the needs of the family.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 10:25am

I am a SAHM too, and this is one area I have really failed in.

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2002
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 10:35am

I am a SAHM and a control-freak-in-recovery, so I had to force myself to assign duties to the kids that I'd normally do myself. They must keep their rooms and bathroom neat and clean, not just because I like it that way but because it's something they'll have to do all thru life...unless of course they become hermits. DS helps with the outdoor chores and the garbage, no simple feat. It has to be bagged a certain way and then hauled to a dumpster about an eighth of a mile away. (we have an old golf cart) He does all of the hauling around the house for me, we live in something called a California Contemporary and have 3 floors. And he keeps the garage neat and clean. DD's share the vacuuming and dish duties. Emptying the dishwasher is one chore I gladly turn over to them, it's just something I've hated since I was a kid.


SFSG...DS is 18...he works, just finished school, keeps his room neat and clean, knows how to cook, do dishes and laundry and he's very organized. DD's are works in progress....


Chores are important simply because they are a reality.

 

Avatar for suzyk2118
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-1997
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 10:41am

For the last few years, ds15 helps load/empty the dishwasher (we all do), cleans his room (when requested; not often as usually it's just a few clothes that need to go down the chute so he usually

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 10:50am
This is a good question. I too am a stay at home mom (domestic engineer as i like to call it) LOL. My kids who are 12 and 15 (almost) really don't have a set chore list. Like you,,i do everything since i'm home all day. And like you,,,after dinner the kids take turns loading/unloading the dishwasher. that is the only thing i ask of them besides putting there own wash away which seems like i'm asking them to give me there teeth instead.
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Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-25-2008 - 1:34pm

Like some of the others, my teen is older (and I have a ds21 that lives on his own) and they have always had chores.

Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Sun, 01-27-2008 - 3:13pm
As a former SAHM who just reentered the workforce again recently I am finding that I did a great disservice to myself and my family by doing it all.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2007
Sun, 01-27-2008 - 3:29pm

"I am a SAHM and a control-freak-in-recovery"


This just made my day....ROTFLMBO!!!

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