Chores Update

We have had our "Job Wheel" on the refrigerator for several weeks now and I am starting to see some positive results. The kids still hate doing the dishes, but I started listening to their complaints and implemented some of their ideas. For example, my son was complaining one day and he said "Why doesn't everybody just put their dishes in the dishwasher after they use them?". That was a very good point and so we are starting a new rule in our house of putting your dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

Next I heard my daughter complaining that the dish washing gloves were too big and water kept getting inside them. So the next time we were at the store, I had her pick out some gloves that would fit her. She chose a lovely pair of small, pink dish washing gloves. Now I think she actually looks forward to doing the dishes because she gets to use her new gloves!

There is still some resistance and passive aggressive behavior when it comes to the chores. For example, my son's job this week is laundry. He had a sleepover one night and I needed some clothes washed, so I started a load of laundry for him. When he got home from his sleepover I mentioned that I had started a load of laundry and I asked him if he could move the laundry to the dryer. Five minutes later, I noticed that the dryer wasn't running so I asked him if he had moved the laundry over to the dryer. He said "Yes", and I said "But the dryer isn't running...". He said "Well, you didn't say start the dryer, you just said move the clothes over to the dryer." By the way, my son is available for coaching sessions on the subject of "How to passive aggressively undermine the authority figures in you life!"

And finally, the most surprising development was a statement that my daughter made the other day. I think she even surprised herself. She said "Dad...I can't believe I am going to say this, but thanks for making us do our chores. I am starting to feel a sense of accomplishment for a job well done."