Do your teens and pre-teens do chores?

[scrdofbugs]

I just have 1 DD (14) but she has chores. We expect her grades to be A's mostly with a couple B's (she is in all honor classes) and she plays soccer. We feel that she is learning to manage her time. She knows school first, then soccer, then chores or NO going to friend's house, movies, etc. She has to keep her room clean, vaccum her room, the small hallway and the computer room (spare bedroom). She empties the dishwasher. She also can wash her own laundry but it is not her chore she does it to help out or if she needs something. She also waters and feeds the kitty. Now I had surgery and have been on rest for 4 weeks. I can't do anything. She has really picked up and done everything for me. She is getting a nice little $$ bonus for that. My DH and DD have been WONDERFUL to me during this time. I haven't had to worry about anything. Now with that being said neither DH or DD does things "MY" way but I have learned that their way is okay too. It saves me time. I use to redo everything not anymore. I got over it. I think chores are good for kids. They need to learn how to keep a house up. Not everyone has maid as adults.
I almost forgot -- she cleans her bathroom too. Boy, is it a mess!!! Sometimes you can't find the sink for all the products!!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Heck ya.

They dust, vaccuum, clean their rooms, take out the trash, clean the cat boxes, clean the upstairs bathroom. I've also taught them how to do laundry and they sometimes do the dishes. I'm teaching them how to cook and they each cook 1 meal a week. I consider that one of their chores.

My son also mows the lawn but he gets paid for that. He edges the front lawn a couple of times a year and gets paid for that.

I am at home most of the day (I work out of the house) and I don't make most of the mess so why should I be the only one cleaning up after everyone? No way, no how.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

The world is full of people who I could use to prove you wrong. Just read the thread about the man asking if his wife should be mad at him for ruining her clothes in the laundry. That man had great grades but no one gave him life skills. Now his wife is suffering.

She suffered all the way to the store and back where she bought another one.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

at our house it's the dog

LOL we don't have a dog anymore. But when we did his tail left a path of destruction for mom to clean up.

That is my motto!! "Momma ain't your maid!"

I'm in the process of cutting vinyl letters for my kitchen that say "M" is for mom, not for maid!

See I don't buy the if they don't do it as kids they won't be able to do it. That's just foolish. anybody with half a brain or who can read can do laundry it really isn't rocket science. The 20 somethings who can't really can't it is don't want to. Same with cooking if you can read you can cook. It isn't that hard to follow instructions.

I disagree, while there are manuals and instructions on how to use a washing machine, tasks such as sweeping and ironing are best learned hands on. Same thing with writing checks (Farrah from teen mom, couldn't even write a check for her first months rent), balancing a checkbook, paying bills. All tasks that need to be taught, not just figured out on their own. And yes, DS14 pays the bills and balances the checkbook with me. I was tired of the gimmes even when I said there was no extra money for the month.

My mom worked with a girl, who was about 16 or 17, who would toss a perfectly good shirt because a button fell off. Her mother never showed her how, so my mom sat down with her one day after work and taught her how to sew a button and make minor garment repairs.

My brother exploded a pyrex dish on the stove because he didn't know that it couldn't be used on a stove top. Had he spent any time in the kitchen with my mom he would have known that and not darn near killed himself.

 

[Longsx3]

DD(14) does not have any chores per say, yet she would bring in the garbage can if it was down by the street when she came in. The reason for chores is based on her academics she has 4 honors classes, 1 AP Class , A senior level Law Studies Class plus an additional online class...then there is soccer and she tutors at the Middle School. The little down time she has she definitely has earned.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter doesn't really have chores-at least not during the school year on weekdays! She keeps her room and playroom clean but other than that her main job during the school year is school- after 7 hours of school and 3 hours of homework I think that is enough for her to do! She helps out on weekends if I am cleaning something though.
If I was a SAHM I would not bother her with doing anything which is also what my mom did when I was growing up but I am not- at least for the next 2 and a half years then I will be retired!

 

[HelenePA]

I moved out at 21 not knowing how to do laundry cook (I swear to you I was not allowed to touch the stove!) or do most of the stuff that normal 21 yr olds do! I also moved out pregnant! Holy shock to me when here I was with a newborn not really knowing what the hell to do!! So yes my kids will learn all this stuff early in life.. I am their mom not their maid.. I am NOT supposed to clean up all their messes.. They made them they can clean it.. they can also help around the house.

 

[Longsx3]

I guess I need to add, while my DD does not have set chores...she has sorted and washed laundry, often cooks her own meals, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen etc.

She just does not have chores she is responsible for on a regular basis.

 

[Mama-san]

Yes, my 9 & 11 year olds have chores. Walk the dog, turd patrol, unloading dishwasher, putting away laundry, etc. plus additonal help as needed. They do receive a small allowance ($3/wk) for doing this. It takes no more than 5-10 min. total per day. Both are involved with after school activities.

I feel like a large part of a parent's job is to prepare your child to be successful as an independent once they are out on their own. Household chores, cooking, and finance are all part of the training. I personally think you are doing your child a disservice by not teaching these things. It's a small amount of time invested over the course of 18 years, and it will save them from having to figure it all out for themselves later.

 

[pperfectmom]

My kids are young but there are certain chores they have had for a long time-setting the table for dinner, helping clean up after dinner, feeding and watering the dog. None of these are very time consuming but it teaches them that they are part of the family and need to contribute. I am currently a SAHM but I feel that is irrelevent. I also encourage them to help with cooking dinner but they are absolute failures at folding clothes(for now anyway). They do not get an allowance either. It's all part of life and taking care of yourself. Now we do have chickens and I told them once they start laying it will be their job in the mornings to collect the eggs and any extras we have we can sell to relatives and they can keep the money.

 

[pigletgirl]

Oh we were expected to do chores. My mom couldn't of done it all herself. Besides, its a life skill to be able to do laundry, clean, ect. My friends whose parents did that for them arent doing so well on their own, and for some strange reason their parents can figure it out (*sarcasm*)
Your friend should step up to the plate and make his kids help around the house, and so his wife doesn't have to be a holly housewife.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Yes, our 14 and 12 year olds do chores. They live here, so they have to pitch in and help around the house. Plus, I look at doing chores as learning life skills and it builds responsibility.

 

[rie'smom]

No, my kids had/have no chores. Neither my brothers and I nor my husband and his siblings had chores as kids..

I had an aunt and uncle growing up that had step stools built so their 3 yo could help her 5 yo sister do the dishes. He had an orange grove. Every day during the summer time, their 3 kids, later 5 kids were up at 6 to pick oranges. They had a midmorning break of 2 cookies and a small dixie cup of milk. Once I happened to sleep over during this time-notice the once. Their kids were not kids, they were free labor.