My house is nearly always a disaster. My girls don't feel the need to pick up after themselves. In fact they don't feel the need to do much in the way of helping out at all.
When I ask them to sort their own laundry they fight and scream and hit each other with the clothes. Then the clothes end up on the floor.
When I ask them to unload the dishwasher they put the clean dishes on the counter, not in the cupboards where they belong.
When I signed up to be a mom I'm sure there wasn't a hidden clause saying I'd also be maid and janitor for 18+ years.
I've tried MANY chore charts and systems and they fall apart after a while, mostly because I don't keep up on them the way I should. That has GOT to change and this is going to be the year!
Here is my next go at a chart, it is big, it is on a poster board, it can't get lost. This is Fred's, it will have her name at the top. If you click the picture you can read what her lists are. (FYI - Bunso is the name of our van)
When I ask them to sort their own laundry they fight and scream and hit each other with the clothes. Then the clothes end up on the floor.
When I ask them to unload the dishwasher they put the clean dishes on the counter, not in the cupboards where they belong.
When I signed up to be a mom I'm sure there wasn't a hidden clause saying I'd also be maid and janitor for 18+ years.
I've tried MANY chore charts and systems and they fall apart after a while, mostly because I don't keep up on them the way I should. That has GOT to change and this is going to be the year!
Here is my next go at a chart, it is big, it is on a poster board, it can't get lost. This is Fred's, it will have her name at the top. If you click the picture you can read what her lists are. (FYI - Bunso is the name of our van)
The letters aren't glued down and neither are the tags. I want to get the whole thing laminated so she can check off the items as she goes with a dry erase marker.
There will be another chart that has their names down the side and the days of the weeks across. It didn't transfer well but you get the idea.
| | | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Fred | Special Activity Tasks | | Karate | Activity Day | Karate | | | |
| Jr. | Special Activity Tasks | Dance | Karate | Activity Day | Karate | | | |
| George | Special Activity Tasks | Art Dance | | | | | | |
Specials is what art, music & PE are called. I've discovered more than once as a kid gets out of the car that she has PE and the wrong shoes on. I don't remember what Fred & Jr have each day. The activities are obviously their after school classes. Tasks will be chores. Chores are definitely viewed as awful and yucky and drudgery. Hopefully disguised as "tasks" they will have a less dreadful connotation, hopefully, just let me dream ok?
This chart will also be laminated but the specials, activities and tasks will not be permanently on the chart. They will be on cards with velcro tabs on the back so they can be moved as needed. The tasks will be assigned in the following way. Mondays will be focus on the family and living room with assigned tasks including dusting (somebody ought to do it), vacuuming, sweeping, etc. Tuesdays are for bedrooms (day 1) all toys off floors, vacuuming, clothes out. Wednesdays will be bathrooms toilets, counters, mirrors, floors, and laundry being taken out. Thursdays will be bedrooms (day 2) all toys off floor, change sheets, clothes out. Fridays will be a free day, we'll need a break. Saturdays will be for the less often tasks like dusting ceiling fans, cleaning the fridge, working in the yard, etc. Sunday won't have working tasks but both girls need to work on their Faith in God so that is going to become more of a focus. I'd also like them to hand write letters to family members. Don't laugh or you won't get one!
So that is the new Master Plan. Any helpful or constructive ideas and suggestions are welcome.
8 comments:
I think it looks good. It's a good way for you to keep on top of everyone and what they are doing, as well as getting them to help around the house. Yay for a cleaner house! :)
Dear girls,
If you don't like mommy's new chore chart you are all old enough to fly on an airplane now and you can come live with me. You won't have to do any chores here because Little Uncle Drox is forced to clean the whole house by himself all the time. Don't believe me? Just ask him, he'll confirm it's true.
Love,
AnWanna
P.S. You might actually prefer living with one of Little Uncle Drox's friends as NONE of his friends EVER have to do chores.
I'm so feeling your pain! I'm tired of asking children to do things a BILLION times. We also just started a new chart. Here's for hoping!
Now you can see where little uncle Drox gets his flair for the dramatic from....
This is a repost of my comment - I did not mean to point fingers or accuse anyone of being a slacker. I WILL be happy to post daily photos of the kitchen counters, and the accusation of drama on my part will be laughable.
I like your charts, I like the schedule and I remember when you lived by the schedule (before 3 squirrels and a life of sewing) you were AMAZING and your house was a dream ;-} I think the sewing hit it hardest, you were still doing well even with 2 little squirrels.
I agree that the charts will help you stay on top of things, consistency is still a dream in my life, but when I had consistency blips in my life it made a wonderful difference!
* I just copied this paragraph and will email it to you . . . *
My Grandma Bailey would have the dishes done before the last person finished eating, not sure how, but she did. We never dreamed of eat and run at her house and it didn't take long because everyone (not my grandpa) helped. My biggest regret is that my mom did not have that skill to pass on to me so I did not instill it in my children. I don't know if Grandma just never got tired or WHAT but even when we canned or the counters were lined with pies, there were NO dishes, unless we were in the process of drying and putting them away, and she never owned a mechanical dishwasher...just kids and grandkids, and daughter-in-laws. It is my current desired goal but, surprisingly, NO ONE is interested in getting up from each meal and dishing as a group so that there are never piles of dishes. I keep thinking that since we have a mechanical dishwasher it should be easier... I am NOT home during meal prep or cooking often enough to help stay ahead of the game. Moga does great but she is one against 5 and I HATE spending my Saturdays and Sunday afternoons dishing! Poor little Uncle JonE, I see darkness on his horizon...
xoxoxox
I love, love, love your chart and schedule. Can you come and organize me? (Oh, wait, I'm not so good at following schedules) WAY TO GO!!!!
Little Uncle JonE dished whilst Moga and I did the Saturday shopping and wiped 'em out with only a couple exceptions which I was happy to 'take cared of'when I got home.
In return he had two friends over for HOURS and I brought pizza home for the boys. Even tho' JE made cheeze later and I made enchiladas for dinner all dishes were done and the counters clear when I went to bed. So maybe saying things on your blog is even BETTER than a chart, eh?
Thank you Ddonn!!! xoxoxox
Post a Comment