Chores ... and stubborn kids!

[Early Bird]

My dc are 9 and 11. Old enough to do many chores competently.

Yesterday, I thought we needed a Home Ec day:

* loads of laundry needed to be folded
* the dishwasher was full ... and another load needed to be run.
* trash baskets were overflowing
* kids'dressers were overflowing
* every horizontal surface had STUFF on it
* DH had mislaid a key ... not a critical key -- a padlock that chains his grill at work to the rail.

So, I told the kids, "We'll be doing 15 minute blocks until it's time for lunch:

* 15 minutes of chores
* 15 minutes of school
* 15 minutes of break

Oh! My! First they COMPLAINED! And whined!

Now, remember, about 2/3 of these messes were KID MESSES. Most of the remaining messes were family messes -- dishes from meals, etc.

DD#1 had 2 meltdowns. Full-scale, tears-running-down-her-face meltdowns. A good 10 minutes wasted for each. One during laundry time; one during math.

DD#2 worked at a slower-than-snail's pace. It took her more than two full work cycles to unload the dishwasher -- and I coudn't get the next load going until she was done!

When it came time for me to do math with big sis, DD#2 was supposed to practice violin. In her 15 minutes, she got out the stand, set up her music, and clipped her nails. Not one note played!

They used every delaying tactic in the book too. Beginning with the classic, "Sorry, Mom! Gotta use the bathroom!" to "Sister's crying. I need to pat her back!"

The only thing they didn't think of was offering me a good stiff drink. Which I could have USED!

I guess they were both being passive aggressive.

What would you DO with kids like that?

Actually, when we got home from piano and speech, I gave them a short break, then started them up again. But we didn't accomplish a lot -- I took some recycling out to the curb, met a 79-year-old neighbor, and, while I talked with her (She's quite a chatterer!), the kids didn't accomplish much at all.

Then it was suppertime.

So, I TRIED to get our system going from 9-12:30 and from 4-6. In actuality, we didn't get much accomplished. Dishes done. Some laundry folded. Some dressers and nightstands dusted. Some toys picked up. A little vacuuming.

In retrospect, it's kind of funny -- 72 potty breaks per child! Margery, if I didn't have the interesting BATHROOM UNIT STUDY set up, they wouldn't be so happy in there!

So, how do you train your children to get their chores done?

[YankeeMom]

Is this block time something you guys do often? If not, maybe they were just thrown off by the change of plans?

We had a similar day yesterday, we don't homeschool but the kids had the day off (parent teacher conferences) & oldest dd watched the younger ones while I went to the two morning conferences. By lunchtime the house was a wreck. Not only had I not been able to get to my usual chores, but the kids had added quite a few messes.
After lunch, I assigned them each a room. My 13yo got the living room (pick up toys/papers/books, clear off the end tables & coffee table, fold the blankets, fix the couch pillows), my 11yo got the dining room/foyer (pick up the toys/papers/books, clear off the table, push in the chairs around the table), my 7yo got the office (pick up the toys/papers/books off the floor, take out the recyclables, put away the game system). Then my 4yo & I tackled the mudroom & kitchen (his job was to straighten the shoes, pick up the toys, & throw away any trash on the floors, while I did the rest). Then I set the 11yo to vacuuming while my 13 yo washed the dishes & I started more laundry. The boys (7 & 4yo) were busy taking the big pile of toys gathered from all the rooms upstairs to their toy room.

Yes, there was whining & stalling. But I was right there, aside from bathroom breaks (1 per child...it only took an hour to get all this done), it went pretty well. My 13 & 11yos have a very bad habit of disappearing to the bathroom(s) when it's chore time. Specifically after dinner chores

[Emerald_Mommy]

My girls aren't old enough for me to sympathize properly but I wish you could talk to my mom. I think my sisters and I WERE your daughters She just kept at it even when she must have wanted to kill us. My dad was really helpful, too. Is your dh involved? My dad told me when I was 11, "you make it easier for your mom, I'll make it easier for you," and that motivated me!

[canadian gardener]

ROFL glad my bathroom unit study is doing it's job. Stealth teaching!!!!

Try getting this book out of the library by Bonnie McCullough 401 Ways to Get Your Kids to Work at Home : Household tested and proven effective! Techniques, tips, tricks, and strategies on how to get your kids to ... become self-reliant, responsible adults

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312301472/104-2512103-9235939?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance"]Amazon.com: 401 Ways to Get Your Kids to Work at Home: Household tested and proven effective! Techniques, tips, tricks, and strategies on how to get your kids to share ... become self-reliant, responsible adults (9780312301477): Bonnie Runyan McCullough, Susan Walker Monson: Books[/ame]

I love it. I got it when we began homeschooling. There are ways to get them to do chores, finish their homework, and do their homeschool work on time.

She is one sneaky and terrific mother. And boy do her ideas work.

the kids will never know what happened, and while they will be doing their work, wondering how this all came about, you'll have time for that swift stiff snort of whatever cheers you up!

(me it's a nice episode of star trek but others may wish a martini!!)

[Early Bird]

Thanks, I've got it requested through interlibrary loan.

DH laughed when he read about your Star Trek fix.