Mud. Dried mud. Technically it would be called dirt, I suppose. Whatever it’s called, someone tracked it all over my house this morning.
I won’t name names but I could tell who it was as I followed the path around with my vacuum after the kids were bouncing down the road on the yellow kidmobile at dawn this morning.
No big deal. It happens when it’s been foggy and soggy out and half of our property is an empty pasture. What did “get my goat” was what I saw as I was dutifully sucking up dirt.
- Soggy towels on the floor…again. Mixed with dirty drawers and socks.
- Four unmade beds.
- Clothes resting comfortably in the exact spot where they were last dropped.
- Clean laundry piled high in the laundry room.
- Garbage cans spewing everything from doodled copy paper to empty pizza boxes to banana peels.
- A gazillion and one granola bar wrappers scattered in various hidden and not so hidden places.
All of which leads me to a conclusion that’s been festering ever since sending the kids back to public school:
We need a new Chore System!
Don’t get me wrong, the kids have chores they’re supposed to do. At the bare minimum they have to do music practice, reading, and homework before any media or friends. And on a good day (at least a good day for me), they’re met after school with a chore list. And they’re not bad at getting their chores done when they know what they are. The problem?
Consistency
In the past I’ve tried a few different systems. When we homeschooled, I tried this one:
Which worked most excellently because the kids were home all day and had plenty of time to finish their lists.
We’ve also tried all sorts of handmade charts with pockets for “To-Dos” and “Dones”. They work for awhile but stagnation sets in or the cards accidentally get flushed down the toilet or thrown out with the trash detail, eventually rendering this system null and void.
We’ve done the chore wheel as well. But when the kids range in age from 4 to 13, it isn’t always a fair system when your 4 year-old gets stuck with “mowing the lawn” and your 13 year-old lucks out and gets “stacking the library books on the hearth”.
And what about reinforcement? We’ve taken away privileges, opened up a ChoreStore with goodies that can be purchased with ChoreDollars, and dabbled in allowance.
Nothing really floats my boat right now. I want something that’ll knock my socks off. A creative approach perhaps? Highly effective, definitely!
So, I am reaching out to you, Dear Readers, to help me out here. Do you have a chore system that you swear by, has changed your life, your sanity couldn’t do without? I am all ears.
In fact, I am so desperate for the perfect system (or at least one that makes life easier and more enjoyable) that I’m willing to giveaway something in exchange for some Chore Genius!
Here’s how it works:
Leave me a comment with:
- your system
- why you like it
- and how to go about implementing it
In exchange for airing your dirty laundry about chores (doesn’t really make sense but I couldn’t resist) you’ll be in the running for this:
A bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner. My very favorite! I love the way it makes my whole house smell. Not chemically and bleachy, but lemony and clean.
It’s hard-working, concentrated and an all-around generalist; Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lemon Verbena All Purpose Cleaner is good for just about everything. Great on all non-porous surfaces such as finished wood and tile floors, countertops, walls, porcelain, bathroom fixtures, sealed natural and synthetic stone, and more.
All entries will be numbered. Commenting on my blog will give you one entry. Link this giveaway on your blog, comment again letting me know you’ve linked me and you’ll get another entry. Contest ends Wednesday night at 9:00 MST. The winner will be announced on Thursday morning.
Oh! I’m so excited to hear what you’ve got! Oh, and while you’re sharing, have you got a good system for meal planning? Hmmmm….
Happy Monday!
Sounds alot like my house. I hate it when they tuck the wrapper all sorts of weird places. Why can’t they just throw them away?? I am counting on YOU giving me the 411 on the best chore system…
Great giveaway!
XOXOXOOXO
J
I’ve tried 2 things that worked well…. if I could remember to keep up on it. For Chey I’ve done a chore chart which she checks off everyday with wipe-off markers. Then at the end of the week she can choose money OR something from the prize box. I’ve tried doing points for each thing and counting up the points as to what she gets but it got way to math consuming.
For the babies I went to Walmart and they picked out a little cup and their favorite color beads. Every time they did a chore (or went to the bathroom in the potty) they got a bead. When their cup filled up (usually at the end of the month) they got to go to the dollar store or WalMart and pick out a toy. They seemed to stay motivated with being able to drop the beads in and by watching them collect.
Joe and I chose their chores baised on their skill levels. Unfortunatly I could get Joe to be motivated with the same ways. 😉
Hope this helps and good luck!
No good cleaning system… but meal system? That I’ve got. Or at least one that has drastically changed the way we eat around here.
I’m a huge advocate of meal planning.. (hence the blogger buffet.) I promise it will save you time, money and you will all end up eating healthier.
With abundance of internet sites it’s easy to plan these days. I do 5 dinners a week. The other two days are for leftovers and when we eat out. One of the five meals is always a crock-pot meal for my really busy days. Most often I will try and plan 10 meals.. and that means I have to go grocery shopping only once every 2 weeks. When you plan this way you can get fresh herbs… veggies etc. and stock up on items. Planning also allows you to buy things in bulk that you will use for several meals (i.e… cheese, sauces, etc. )
Can’t wait to read all the chore suggestions.. boy do I need those.
Unfortunately, I got nothing. Really helpful, huh?
Don’t you just hate Mondays? The mess is always worse then…
We tried all the fancy charts and reward systems. I am not good with follow through so they all bombed.
Finally, I assigned each kiddo one job to do. Just verbally told them and put it on a sticky note on the fridge. They are all stuck doing the same boring job until they all get it right — or until I feel like switching. We usually stay on the same job for a couple months.
So, I always know who has what. If they don’t like their job, they just have to start doing it well and they can switch.
Way easier! No confusion. No wheels to turn or popsicle sticks to pick out of a basket. Their reward (of changing jobs) is up to them.
Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
Great ideas so far!
Jamie, I may try some of those ideas for the little one.
Sherine, thanks for the ideas on menu planning. What are your favorite recipe sites?
RealMom, I think that’s the simplest idea I’ve heard. It’s certainly the easiest. I really like it!
I have nothing in place so to speak. When the mess gets too bad, I yell and scream and threaten until they clean it up. I do have to say that I might try some of these ideas though.
Accountable Kids.
You can google it. It comes with a quick DVD, book, flip cards and a wooden thing to hang them on.
It is great for younger kids…up to about 10…
It makes it so the chores get done and you (the mom) aren’t the bad guy nagging all the time.
They have to do chores to earn rewards like play time with friends, tv time, computer time, etc.
It takes a bit of time up front but can run smoothly if you stick with it.
(You don’t have to send me anything. Just a free tip from me 😉
I have nothing!!! I have failed at the whole chore thing! I have 3 capable daughters and all seem to disappear when things need to be done! So, I won’t qualify for the drawing….but…please share when you find something that works!
Okay…since I can’t contribute, I’ll just vote on what I like and what would work for me, the mom of 3 girls aged 8-15….I really like the RealMom idea. I can do that!
Wife O Riley, that’s kind of what I’ve been doing lately and my throat is getting raw. I’m hoping for a reprieve of sorts. But hey, if it works for you, continue on my friend. 🙂
Carolyn, I am definitely going to check that system out. I’m open for anything that will work. I think I’ve actually heard of it but I don’t think I’ve ever looked into it.
Chrissy, I have the same problem. All of a sudden we’re alone right after dinner every night. The kids are nowhere to be found. So please, let me know what sounds good to you too.
In my “worldly” experience, it’s not the chart that’s the key here. It’s the consequences. Figure out a way to assign chores on a rotating basis…we always just used one of those gigendous calendars you get at Staples. Oh, and one of those cheap little mini-pocket calendars, too. Write down the chores for each week, on both the big calendar and in the pocket calendar for each kid (we called these pocket calendars “passports”). Check to make sure the chores are done, and done right. Each kiddo who successfully completes a chore gets a star on the calendar, and a star in the “passport,” too. If a kid doesn’t get the chore done, no stars, and some kind of small punishment. They’ll figure out really soon what the deal is. The one with the most stars at the end of the month gets…oh, I don’t know, a coupon to Baskin Robbins or something. Hey, it always worked for us!
First, thanks for the sweet comment on my blog the other day! I subscribed to you a few months ago but just hadn’t commented yet. So you know I’m kid-less and therefore without any ideas but I’m going to attach a link to a blog I love and read daily. Sophia is just a supermom and I think she has really good ideas on a lot of things. This is a link to a post from last summer that I also sent to my sister (who’s got 4 kids.) I just love Sophia’s sense of organization. I don’t know that this will help you with the whole chore chart thing but there may be something there that will help you. http://sophiacorbridge.typepad.com/sentimentsbysophia/2008/05/walkin-on-sunshine.html
Hey…I did a post on this a few months ago. Go check it out:
http://everydayromneys.blogspot.com/2008/09/working-their-fingers-to-bone.html
It’s a good system…with plenty of yelling thrown in from time to time.
(It’s a lot, but have you ever seen what those pioneer kids used to do? My kids can handle it.)
Our kids take turns cleaning the bathroom each week. Our 11 year old and 8 year old team it one week, our 13 year old does the next.
They do their bathroom.
My husband and I take turns doing ours too.
And then we have a calendar where we rotate 5 chores like dishes, feeding dogs, sweep, set table, wipe table, and we rotate among the 5 of us, too. We used to have to help our 8 year old, now she does it by herself.
Thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
I did a post about this too. My kids don’t do as much as Jessica’s though, so maybe you should skip mine and read hers. I bow down to her.
Here’s the link.
http://groundhogdaywithceliafae.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-call-it-get-work-done-day.html
Okay-I just want to win. I fully admit I have no great ideas on chores-how to do them, let alone how to get the kiddos to do them. Just close your eyes and go read a good book! There problem solved! 🙂
I just realized you can’t really close your eyes and read a good book, but what I really meant was ignore the mess and go read a good book. I’m a little embarrassing!
My favorite chore system is my own. I made a list of things that need to be done around the house (that I don’t want to do :)) and then I assigned each chore for a day of the week. Then, I alternated kids with the weekly chores i.e.: Keller takes out the garbage on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays and Ella the 2nd and 4th…Then I made a list of daily crap that they need to do (making beds and such). There are no formal rewards, but when they come to me, asking to do something or go somewhere, I just ask “Are your chores done? Oh they’re not? Well, you can ask me again when they’re done.”
We also have a nightly “toys and personal items time”. Setting the clock can help with this…but basically, everyone (including mom and dad) goes through the whole house at the end of the day, right before bed or dinner and they pick up and put away all their toys and/or personal items (clothes, school crap, etc.) It only takes 15 mins or so, and then, when they go to bed, the house doesn’t look like Katrina passed through. Which is always nice and relaxing for mom, right?
I have an Excel Spreadsheet that has each child’s name on it and the jobs that they have to do after school. They include homework, a kitchen job, piano, 2 rooms of the house (have to be picked up – and then deep cleaned once a week), an animal job, and taking care of their clean laundry. They have to do this before any friends or media. I do let them read, however. I’m not sure this is a good thing as far as work ethic or a clean house goes, but I sure have turned out some good readers! This only works about 60% of the time. 🙂 The other 40% when it doesn’t work is my fault because I get occupied and don’t follow through with consequences when they don’t get it done. I need to do better.
I have been working on getting my menu preparation/grocery list ready to share. It’ll let you know when it’s ready!
Great post!
Well I missed out, but I am going to read this. My house is in a state of chaos right now. Part of it is our limited time at home right now … too many activities piled on with school, appointments, and phone calls.
I NEED TO GAIN CONTROL.
Hey, where do you get that cleaner (Whole Foods?)
I am working on adopting would love some ideas on getting kids to help out LOL
I beat ’em senseless til they do theire chores. jk. Actually I do the chores with them.
Thanks for the giveaway!
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
I really just thank them and show them how difficult it is to manage the house by myself, and they understand that they LIVE HERE, so they have to contribute. I don’t believe in allowances, they shouldn’t be paid for doing what they should be doing.