We had a hectic weekend at our house. Friday night Keri and I went shopping for decorations for her birthday party. She wanted a Hawaiian theme for her party. We found lei’s and cups that look like coconuts. The grass skirts were ten dollars each. Needless to say, I skipped out on those. Saturday morning we got up and went out again to see if we could find any cheaper grass skirts. We checked at the dollar store but they didn’t have any either. They did however, have double A batteries. I don’t know if Panasonic is a good brand or not. I figured for a buck it couldn’t hurt to try. The batteries in my toothbrush were low the Spinbrush was barely spinning.
We had an experience at the bank. Keri got a money order in her name from one of the grandparents. We went to my bank to cash it and I just went through the drive thru. I put the signed money order and my driver’s license in the tube and send it. A couple of minutes later she asks me if I have an account. UUMMMMM yeah. Otherwise, why would I drive ALL the way across town to cash the money order? I fish out my account number and give her that. Then she says, “This isn’t made out to you”. To which I responded, “It’s made out to my ten-year old” pointing to Keri sitting in the backseat. “Oh, I see” she says and sends back the tube with the money. I realize she didn’t know what the situation was, but come on! I won’t go off on one of my tirades today. That’s all I have to say about that.
The birthday was fine, blah, blah, blah. Usually when we have my family all together it’s chaos. When it was time for cake and ice cream, I formulated a brilliant plan. We asked the kids what kind of ice cream they wanted. One.Kid.At.A time. We then served the cake and ice cream.One.Kid.At.A time. I was scooping ice cream and my sister was cutting cake. This assembly line worked out great. It was a serene experience. Kids were not running all over the house screaming out what kind of ice cream they wanted. We brought the kids into the kitchen as their plates were ready.
Sunday was full of more thrills. Keri wanted to go the inflatable funhouse. They have open play from 4-6 on Sunday afternoons. Let me tell you, if you are not a kid, and you are not jumping around in there. It’s freakin’ cold! The only thing that made the two hours bearable was that I ran into my SIL there. I was still cold but at least I had someone to talk to. After an agonizing two hours, we could finally leave. It was off to the grocery store. By the time we got home and unloaded groceries it was 8pm. Make coffee, make lunches, do laundry, work myself into an early grave.
While I was running errands this weekend, I made a decision. It’s one that I hope I can stick with. You guys have read my gripes about how hard it is to keep up a house and work full time. I swear I feel like I am running myself ragged most of the time. What I have decided is that I have two able bodied children living in that house. Why should I do all the work? What law says that I have to be the breadwinner and the maid? I am so sick of hearing “What’s for dinner” and “Where’s my (fill in the blank)”. Why not have the little hoodlums start dinner? It’s not that complicated. Besides cooking is a life skill that they will both need to have. Melissa is 16 years old and barely knows how to make spaghetti.
Beginning this very night, I will have THEM decide what we are having for dinner. It will be up to THEM to get dinner started. As a matter of fact, I may not stop with just dinner. I may force them to sweep or mop or God forbid, run the vacuum. Maybe I could even hire them out on weekends. Then I wont have to get a second job. Oh, wait a minute, did I say that out loud? My bad. Forget you heard that….or read it.
This whole thing about chores for money….HA! In their young little dreams. No one pays me for cooking or cleaning the house. Everyone will pitch in with everything. Melissa asked me last night if I would make her sandwich for lunch today. I told her that I would, but tonight it’s HER job to make the sandwiches for EVERYONE!!!! MMMMWWWAAAAA. I don’t want my kids to be lazy slobs who are not able to take care of themselves in the most basic of ways. I will say that Melissa has been doing her own laundry for a few years now. She is pretty good about helping out with dishes, but that’s about it.
No more I say! Their reign of terror is over. My years of indentured servitude are over. There is just too much to be done for me to do it all, if I want to keep my sanity that is. As I mentioned recently, I don’t want to throw my money and therapy down the drain. So I decree and declare from this day forward, on the 25th of August, in the year of our Lord 2008 that I, Susie Wears The Pants will actually wear the pants.
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8 comments:
hooray for you! i too think kids should do chores w/out getting paid (the hubs disagrees). my two are soooo lazy when it comes to doing anything house related. i hope you'll share your tips on how to motivate them to get up off their butts : )
Good for you! I think it's high time, and it'll be good for them to discover the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing a chore well. I was dusting the house every week by the time I was 12, and cleaning up the kitchen was standard, too. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized just how much work was put on my mom, and I thanked her. Yours will get it too...eventually. ;)
YOU GO GIRL!
Mine, at 4 and 6, have stuff they have to do!!!!!
I was making dinner at 11! So it is possible ;o)
GOOD LUCK!!!
And glad Keris party went well!!
Good lord yes woman! I don't know how my mom did it but I did everything! I cleaned, cooked, and beat my litle brothers when they needed a beating. I really don't know how she did it. I have pictures of me standing on chairs beside her in the kitchen. I think maybe the plot began at about 3 years of age. I however plopped mine in front of Sesame Street. They do not cook or clean much, but they can sing every word of, "Rubber Ducky Your the One."
I think you are absolutely correct. Mine do their chores, and are not paid to do them. They do get an allowance, but not for their responsibilities. Good for you!
I have not been consistent in giving my kids regular chores - one of my failings as a mom.
It's a great idea to have your dauhters start dinner. Even Keri could do simple ones - like hot dogs or tuna sandwiches. Or maybe she could set the table and clean up. What has worked for me when I can't get dinner started is just to say "you're on your own" and that gets them motivated really fast to come up with a meal, once they see I'm REALLY NOT going to cook dinner.
We give allowances but it's more for experience in budgeting than for work they have done.
Good for you that you are actually going to wear pants from now on. But...what have you been wearing until now? If that's not too personal.....
You're doing such a good job with your girls.
good for you! they are old enough to help out for sure! I helped my mom clean the house every sunday growing up, while listening to Neil Diamond records. (yes I said records as in albums...dating myself)
Hooray! I agree that kids should help out as soon as they're able. Good for you! The eldest can DEFINITELY vacuum. Hell, if she can drive a CAR, she can drive a VACUUM.
I admit, my kids get cash for chores, but they don't get cash any other way, and I no longer buy them stuff, except for necessities, of course. If they want a video game, or new markers, or Xmas gifts for friends, THEY buy it. They no longer ask me for money or things, and it's great. They can earn up to a dollar-per-year-of-age a week (so, nine for Josie and five for Patrick) depending on whether they do everything I ask. No help = no money = no markers. Voila. When they get older, this won't work anymore, since I'm not coughing up THAT much money, but for now, it's OK.
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