Okay, this is something I have always thought a lot about. Do you think kids should do chores?? How often, what kind, should they be scheduled or just when we tell them to??
I struggle with this question. My childhood was riddled with Saturdays when we weren't allowed to play because the garage, basement, bedroom, etc. needed cleaning. Funny when I think about it that my ADD brother and my ADD self were plopped down into a room that was completely totalled and told to "clean" it. We, of course, never got done in less than a weekend and did more looking around in horror than actually working.
This isn't how we work things at my house. Yes, I still spend time looking around in horror, but the kids are used mostly as manual labor. I work the plan, they "pick up" and such.
They do have to regularly unload the dishwasher which I load since they are so bad at it. I think this will change in 2010. They are gonna be in charge of all the dishes. They also take laundry up to bedrooms. They put their own away and anyone else's goes on their beds to be put away before they go to sleep (in theory).
So, back to the original question...How many and what kinds of chores should kids be responsible for??
Thursday, December 24, 2009
So, yesterday I didn't post at all. I spent a lot of time thinking about planning...WHAT??? I see this for what it is. Conscious procrastination! This is something that I EXCEL at!! But, while I was doing my procratinating I was making some mental notes. I have a notebook in which I am beginning to write my plan. I am going to work on planning my days, my tasks, meals, spending, and anything that I can stuff into my planning book.
First task then (as I see it) is making the lists in my notebook, taking inventories and creating a routine. I know, I know. To those of you who are already organized and neat and tidy this seems like a big fat waste of time. Remember, I have NO SKILLS when it comes to organizing...anything. What so many people do without thinking about it I seem to not have any concept of how to do. So, I am going to write it all down and try to follow what I have written.
I have a couple of sources I will be drawing information and tools from. One is Cindy at www.cindysporch.net. She is an amazing resource for planning, saving, organizing and so many other things. I love getting her emails and will incorporate a lot of her wisdom. Another is Leanne Ely with www.savingdinner.com, Mary Hunt from www.everdaycheapskates.com is another phenomenal resource and don't forget FlyLady!
I think what I am trying to say is that the rest of this week and next week will be my planning time and I will try to have my schedules and lists and such all ready for Day 1. January 1, 2010!!
First task then (as I see it) is making the lists in my notebook, taking inventories and creating a routine. I know, I know. To those of you who are already organized and neat and tidy this seems like a big fat waste of time. Remember, I have NO SKILLS when it comes to organizing...anything. What so many people do without thinking about it I seem to not have any concept of how to do. So, I am going to write it all down and try to follow what I have written.
I have a couple of sources I will be drawing information and tools from. One is Cindy at www.cindysporch.net. She is an amazing resource for planning, saving, organizing and so many other things. I love getting her emails and will incorporate a lot of her wisdom. Another is Leanne Ely with www.savingdinner.com, Mary Hunt from www.everdaycheapskates.com is another phenomenal resource and don't forget FlyLady!
I think what I am trying to say is that the rest of this week and next week will be my planning time and I will try to have my schedules and lists and such all ready for Day 1. January 1, 2010!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
I have a follower!! Hi Chris! This should be a ton of fun for everyone following and for me it promises to be interesting! Hope I can accomplish what I have set out for myself.
So now the where!
Where: Right here in my home and in my life!
How: Hopefully slowly and methodically! Like we are supposed to lose weight! I know there are no quick fixes so I am hoping that I can make it habits that will stick.
Why: The only thing in my life that is "unsatisfying" to me is my home! So, that is Why!
So now the where!
Where: Right here in my home and in my life!
How: Hopefully slowly and methodically! Like we are supposed to lose weight! I know there are no quick fixes so I am hoping that I can make it habits that will stick.
Why: The only thing in my life that is "unsatisfying" to me is my home! So, that is Why!
Planning for a year of planning??
Okay, that sounds really strange! But the truth is there does seem to be some planning involved in planning my life.
Let's start at the beginning with the who, what, when, where, why and how.
Who: I am Amy Payne, I am a mother of three (one of whom no longer lives with us) daughters the wife of one husband (hee hee) the keeper of one house (poorly, hence the planning) the "master" of two dogs and the employee of no one! My daughters who live with us are 15 and 12 and are really great kids who need to learn basic housekeeping (along with their mom). My hubby, Tom, is 40 years old and works 50 to 60 hours a week as a meat cutter at Delski's Prime Meats. We live in Wyoming, MI where we were both born and raised.
What: The what sounds very simple and in reality may be the hardest thing I have ever done. I have realized that there are not many jobs out there and apparently no one wants me for the ones that ARE available. So, I am going to use 2010 as the year I turned my life around. I have subscribed to FlyLady, I have read all the organizing books and read the blogs and they all were more work to maintain the "system" than it would be to just do the work! So, I am going to try and try again to organize my existence through trial and error! I am sure I will have times of great failure and times of great success. If you have pointers share them.
When: I will try to post every day! I will shoot for 9 am and again at about 11 pm. I am giving myself one year to straighten out my house, my finances, my life in general! So walk with me. Maybe we will both learn something!
Let's start at the beginning with the who, what, when, where, why and how.
Who: I am Amy Payne, I am a mother of three (one of whom no longer lives with us) daughters the wife of one husband (hee hee) the keeper of one house (poorly, hence the planning) the "master" of two dogs and the employee of no one! My daughters who live with us are 15 and 12 and are really great kids who need to learn basic housekeeping (along with their mom). My hubby, Tom, is 40 years old and works 50 to 60 hours a week as a meat cutter at Delski's Prime Meats. We live in Wyoming, MI where we were both born and raised.
What: The what sounds very simple and in reality may be the hardest thing I have ever done. I have realized that there are not many jobs out there and apparently no one wants me for the ones that ARE available. So, I am going to use 2010 as the year I turned my life around. I have subscribed to FlyLady, I have read all the organizing books and read the blogs and they all were more work to maintain the "system" than it would be to just do the work! So, I am going to try and try again to organize my existence through trial and error! I am sure I will have times of great failure and times of great success. If you have pointers share them.
When: I will try to post every day! I will shoot for 9 am and again at about 11 pm. I am giving myself one year to straighten out my house, my finances, my life in general! So walk with me. Maybe we will both learn something!
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