What do your children do around the house?

  • Thread starter Thread starter deb1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
deb1 said:
I didn’t have to clean up either. My grandmother did everything. Now that I am older I realize how much we took her for granted. We-meaning my siblings and I-did little to make her life easier and much to make things harder, such as not putting away bread or wiping up after ourselves.

Most of my friends who did not help around the house, were surprisingly rude to their parents. (I am not saying this of you, of course) They seemed, like me, to simply take for granted that their clothes would be washed and their bathrooms clean.

When I grew up, wow! life changed drastically. I had to figure out how to clean, how to organize my cleaning and how to keep everything clean.

I think that for the most parts having your children help around the house makes them realize that they are invested in the family as a unit. They are part of the team-if you know what I mean. It gives them pride-unless you are really overworking them-and a sense of accomplishment. I often feel that my children have much higher sense of self esteem then I ever had at their age.
Click to expand...
Whoa, deb1, are you my sister? My grandma lived with my family when I was growing up. She did all the chores–laundry, dishes, cooking, picking up, vacuuming. I remembering throwing clean laundry in the hamper because it was easier than putting it away. I was a rotten kid. :o

It’s been really difficult overcoming my lazy nature. Not only did I receive no house management training, I was allowed to be a total sludge. My parents and grandmother did me no favors by have no requirements for us.

When my older kids were little, I didn’t get them into chores, but when we started hsing and had a few more kids, I had to as a matter of survival. So, I can’t claim any great wisdom.

I read somewhere that God doesn’t call those young men and women who aren’t disciplined to religious vocations. And, of course, it’s really hard on the potential spouse as well.

My dh didn’t do chores in the house, but he had farm chores.

We were a real mess for a few years. Me, trying to overcome my slothful nature, not knowing how to keep house. Him, expecting me to be like his mom (i.e. Marth Stewart-like).

Really, I think new couples need more counselling on these details of making a home. Or, at least some wise mentors to steer them through it.
 
I think that when I have childrren that my rules will be simple - clean your own room to a suitable standard (I dont like mess) as for the kitchen and other rooms that will be my domain because I am very picky ( a little OCD) and everything has to be a certain way! My h2b and I have rules when I am at his house - I cook he clears the table after, I clean his kitchen andlounge - he vacuums up, He does the garbage and I make sure that the gardens are in order! Neither of us like ironing so he has his sent out. I suspect this will remain the same when we marry because we both work the same hours and I get to do the jobs i like them :eek: !
 
grandson Henry also helped me with an answer and it seems he is a very busy boy for 3 1/2, he says he is always running to fetch diapers for baby Jane (she is very poooooopy, grandma). He feeds the kitty, because mommy could not bend down before the baby came, and he kept the job. he picks up his toys and makes his bed (smoothes the comforter), in the bedroom and living room. DD got some neat storage baskets that fit under LR tables, and two bins that serve as end tables, to make that job easier. he also cleans the kitchen floor. mommy gives him a pan of water and sponge and lets him play around, then cleans up with the swiffer. he also “painted” the deck recently, with a bucket of water and a brush. he helps in the yard with the leaves and picking up trash and toys, and helps daddy wash the cars (does not happen anymore because of drought restrictions). he puts his own clothes away, and has a different colore storage bin for each type of item, which makes it easy and fun, although they don’t stay folded very well.
 
Oh for the day when my children will be able to help me with chores! Ok, DS does help some, but somehow when a 3 year old helps, it takes longer to get things done. 😃 Seriously, reading about the things your children are responsible for makes me feel hopeful that when we have 4 or 5 or 6 I won’t be completely insane.

My 3 year old is responsible for putting away his dirty clothes, picking up his room (only trains and books - picking up all the toys in the play room is still too much for him to do alone, though he has to help), and “making” his bed (getting all the blankets, pillows, and assorted stuffed animals off the floor and on the bed!). He helps me with other things, like dusting, sweeping, loading the dishwasher, laundry, etc.

When I was a kid, my mom and dad both worked full time, and my sister and I had chores to do on Saturdays (I think my mom was a little OCD and needed to be there to make sure we did the job right!). I remember doing bathrooms and dusting and vacuuming. Mom always did the laundry (she did teach me how at some point, but it was never a chore I did) and Dad always scrubbed the kitchen floor. I don’t remember if we had any daily chores, though I know we never made our beds (still don’t really understand why it’s necessary, but it’s important to DH, so we do it) or did much to keep our rooms clean.

MJ
 
puzzleannie said:
asked DD this question earlier today, all I could get out of her was “drive me nuts, yell, and tear the place up”
they are only in the 1st week of a 3 week Christmas break, hope they survive.
Click to expand...
SEE??? I’m not the only one!!!

Puzzleannie’s dd nearly quoted me VERBATIM!!
 
bunnynessuk said:
I think that when I have childrren that my rules will be simple - clean your own room to a suitable standard (I dont like mess) as for the kitchen and other rooms that will be my domain because I am very picky ( a little OCD) and everything has to be a certain way!
Click to expand...
That plan is not going to survive contact with the enemy.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top