Chores

Saturday afternoon peace. Saturday is supposed to be chore day but not much got done today! Duncan did mow the front lawn today. It was his first time mowing and he did a pretty good job. He asked if he was getting paid for it. He isn't. He is just old enough to start contributing around here a little more. We have never been sure how to handle the age-old dilemma of chores and allowances. Mitch and Alisa hardly ever got allowance, and were expected to do more chores than most of their friends. I'm not saying they were mistreated or anything. They got plenty of stuff and privileges and we pretty much handed them money whenever they needed it, but they never really had a regular allowance. We have been better at paying allowance to the younger kids, and they probably do less regular chores. Some "experts" say kids should just get an allowance that is not tied to chores, but then have certain chores that they are just expected to do. Then other people say kids should just be paid for chores and not just handed money. I can see both sides, and I guess we have done a little of both with our kids. Now that Mitch and Alisa have jobs and are paying their own insurance (how picked on they are!) they seem to think they shouldn't have to do chores anymore. Mitch says that he has done enough-he has earned his keep, and shouldn't have to do any more around here. Too bad about how he keeps eating and the grass keeps growing. And Alisa thinks that if she pays rent she shouldn't have to do any chores. We tried to explain to them that Dad and I pay rent, and pay for everything else, but we still have to do chores. And if they move out, they will be paying rent and doing ALL the chores. Not sure we got the point across, but it will come. About the time they move out! It is all pretty humorous to watch them figure things out. They did make one good point though, and that is that Duncan and Will are old enough to start doing more around here, like mowing the lawn.
One good thing I did with Mitch and Alisa regarding chores: they have done their own laundry since they were really young- like about ten and twelve years old. I got tired of running up and down the stairs with their clothes and figured they could do their own laundry. And now, they just do it, and keep track of their own stuff. Some of my friends and theirs think it is really strange that I don't do their laundry, but I think they prefer it that way. I definitely prefer it- I've got enough laundry already!