| Author | |
snowbabiesmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 29 2007
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1154
|
| Posted: March 30 2009 at 5:38pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
The other day my oldest ( 12dd) announced.. well.. really you don't do anything because we do it all..... hmmmm.. I had her rethink that immediately and she agreed she wasn't thinking of all it takes to be a SAHM who homeschools with 5 kids in the home. My children help in areas I think are appropriate. All make beds and put clean clothes away and clean room
12dd: empties the dishwasher daily, vacuums under the dinner table daily, wipes down the bathroom counters, helps with the 2yo, cleans the kitchen after Sunday am b'fast
8ds: empties the silverware daily, cleans the kitchen table daily (wipes it down) gathers and takes out trash twice a week, helps clean the kitchen Sunday am
6dd: sets out silverware, helps gather trash cans for trash days with ds, switches laundry from washer to dryer and dryer to hamper
4dd:sets out napkins for dinner, helps switch laundry when needed
I am sure I am forgetting something, but here's a start.
Thanks!
__________________
Kaleigh'97,Brett'00,McKenna'02,Reesie'04,Madelyn'07
+Luke'05,+Mark'08,+Karoline'08
+Matthew '09,
Nico'13;Zelie Oct'14, *Mary Joseph Jan'16
God's Canvas
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: March 30 2009 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I delegate! And I'm often told that I don't do anything... and then I bring out my list.  And then the slink back to setting out silverware.
My top three do almost identical chores to some of your kids.
However, my house is still trashed. We can't seem to do enough chores to offset the dumping of shelves done by 1yo and 2yo.
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: March 30 2009 at 6:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
EVERYTHING!
My 3 oldest are like Maryan's....ages 8, 6.5, 5.5.....and they do everything and WAY more than the above list.
My motto is "If they are CAPABLE of doing it...they should!" I am constantly asking myself, while doing chores or things around the house...."Is this something that someone ELSE in the house is capable of doing?" If the answer is yes, then it gets assigned.
My time is better spent doing things no one else can possibly do....
**child-bearing  and rearing. All-things "Parenting."
**meal planning, cooking, and kichen management (atho as soon as my girls hit age 10....i'm delegating that too)
**putting things away (at least things that they don't know where they go and "homes" to find)
**scheduling
**home education
**overseeing everything!
**finances, purchasing decisions
**organizing and managing big projects
**problem-solving with dh
**cleaning that others can't possibly do
I hardly have anything to do with laundry anymore, and I hardly ever dust, or sweep or vaccuum, unless someone needs help or we're in hurry-mode. I haven't folded a piece of laundry for the past year.
And, I LIKE to clean and do laundry, actually. I love making the house look nice (altho it never does), and I'm, by nature, a work-horse.....so it's not that I'm lazy. I would actually RATHER sweep, etc than do many of the other things on the above list (things only I can do) .....but if the OTHER stuff is going to get done, then I have to delegate, if possible. And, it IS VERY POSSIBLE.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LisaR
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2226
|
| Posted: March 30 2009 at 7:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
almost everything is delegated except laundry. I LOVE doing laundry. it is my quiet oasis in the (now dry!! ) basement and usually when I make my phone calls.
and cooking. although I am more than fine having a sous chef or two to help and usually grab someone to help with Dinner.
but baking is up to them. I have NO sweet tooth, but i'm open to if a ds or two wants to whip up a banana bread, pie, etc. (and clean up the mess after!)
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lauri B
Forum Pro
Joined: March 11 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 208
|
| Posted: March 30 2009 at 7:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've been delegating for years. As soon as they could do a job, I taught them to do it well and then paid them for it. When the older one wanted to move up, she/he taught the job to the younger and passed it down when the younger did it as well as the older. My 19 yo daughter does all the laundry, loads the DW, cleans the bathroom, changes the sheets on the girls beds, and generally helps wherever needed. She also cooks often. My 14 yo son folds all the laundry and puts it away, takes out the garbage, vacuums all the rugs, cleans the kitchen after meals, and helps where needed. He often changes the sheets on my bed, as I have a hand impairment and haven't the strength to pull the fitted sheet over. My 10 yo does all the furniture polishing and dusting, folds towels and underwear and puts them away, cares for the pets, gets the mail, unloads the dishwasher, sets and clears the table, and runs general errands. We clean the whole house on Fridays and everyone works for the whole 2 hours. All three of my children take turns doing the bi-weekly grocery shopping, and carry and put away the groceries. My 19 yo helps make the meal plan, cuts coupons, and helps get the list together. I'm sure I missed something, they really do so much.
They have never said that I don't do anything, though. I always try to work harder than they do, and they seem to really appreciate it. They're very appreciative kids by and large. My youngest is an Aspie and she can be the least appreciative, but she's learning.
Edited to add:
My children have reminded me of quite a few more they'd like me to mention: sweeping and swiffering, the cat box, walking the dog and cleaning up the yard, cutting the grass (14 yo son), cleaning out garages, sheds, attics, basements, cupboards, etc. for Spring cleaning. :)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TracyFD
Forum Pro
Joined: July 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 313
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 4:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I delegate as much as I think is appropriate for my children ages 9, 7, 5 and almost 2yo (she likes to help delivery laundry and swish the toilet brush).
After our cleaning schedule was in place, however, I think I was tempted to check out. I have had to remember to serve my family joyfully and set a good example by cheerfully pitching in. Sometimes I have to meet a child halfway (like the 5yo) by offering to wipe the table if he would sweep the floor.
Otherwise, yes, they clean the bathrooms, take down laundry, change sheets, pick up floors and vacuum. A three week rotating schedule posted shows who has "kitchen patrol", cat duty, meal helpers and which zone to clean. Now that they clean the house a little each day I finally feel like I have time to exercise in the morning!
__________________
Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: How much do you delegate?
