Allocating housework amongst family - does this work for anyone?

Sarahsaver

I did have a 'sin bin' which i think i will resurrect soon...
Basically if things get left lying around they go in a box by the front door and if they are still in it at the end of the week...out they go!

HariboJunkie

Magentasue wrote: »

I don't think it's the same as allocating tasks, penny. Its about changing habits, attitudes and the culture of teens.

I'm living through this one and all the posts above ring true but I think it's hopeless. Sorry! But I think the only families who have this sussed are those where they have been ubertidy throughout toddlerdom and beyond.

Well it works for Penny.

I think that responsibility for their own things should be taught as early as possible but it's never too late to learn.

mummysaver

In our house we all help with the tidying, the children learn that picking up other people's stuff isn't a lot of fun so they tend not to make a huge mess, except for when they're "creating" things lol!

Everyone helps with the housework and other chores, the kids all go to school, oh works full time and is often away, and I work nights, so if we don't all do our share it would just be too much for one person, well unless we got a live in housekeeper (nice idea, shame I can't afford it!)

I do have to chivvy the children along sometimes, but find that reminding them that if they want a lift, their mates round, money for the cinema, or even just feeding then they also need to help else I will be too busy cleaning and tidying to do whatever for them!

All that said my standards of tidyness are probably not as high as some peoples, and the children's bedrooms are their own domains so long as they don't leave wet towels or cups in there I don't mind what state they are in!

Savvy_Sue

onlyoneme wrote: »

I am thinking of putting a note in the kitchen / bathroom to this effect -without sounding too boaring mum or nagging mum!

Won't matter what you do or say, or how you do or say it, you will be boring or nagging. It comes with the job description.

I find the only way is to make it worth their while. DS3 is banned from going to see his friends until his room is tidy. Sadly school starts on Friday and I can't really keep him home then, but he won't be allowed to head off there after school. Well, not if he asks, but he's 16 so not always under perfect control ...

He's also lost a front door key at his friend's house. I've lent him mine, so he can get another one cut for me. He's had it two weeks without managing this. If he doesn't get a new one cut by the end of the week, he'll have no key. And no, that won't be an excuse for going to his friend's house instead of coming home, he can sit on the door step!

I won't start cooking if there's washing up to be done. I won't give lifts if jobs I asked for aren't done. And if you spill juice all over the fridge, I WILL call you to come and wipe it up and bawl you out while I'm at it, so you might as well just sort it out when you spill it in the first place.

House still looks like a bomb site, however! :rotfl:

glitterycloud

I would love for dh to think about doing some housework, he will do it if i ask him but why should I ask him!!
we both work full time and I am a shift worker often working 50 hrs a week but 90 percent of the household chores fall to me because when im working nights dh sees it as "well your at home all today" Argh......... When dh gets home at night usually 5.30-6pm he will usually have dinner waiting for him, he doesn't do the washing up unless i have specifically asked him! he will see it as his downtime so when do I get mine??
If i nag enough he will spend a sunday with me cleaning or very occasionally I will find him cleaning on a sunday - this is usually when I have had enough and go on strike but as I like a clean tidy house (by no means a clean freak) i rarely go on strike as I can not take the mess it drives me mad!!!

When it gets to me I will have a moan and then dh will do his bit for a while, I will say that dh is great in the summer as he takes care of all the outdoor jobs, cutting the grass, trimming hedges, washing cars so I can not complain about that, just a little help in the house putting away his things or items he uses would make life a little easier.

Triggles

I'm a SAHM and DH works shiftwork plus extra hours, so I do a fair amount of the housework, but that's okay. DH does what he can to help out, or he keeps the kids out of the way so I can get stuff done - which in my opinion is just as good as doing it himself, as it takes me twice as long trying to get things done with kids underfoot!

He's quite happy to pitch in with laundry, cooking, washing up, general picking up, sweeping, and hoovering whenever needed. Sometimes I ask, sometimes he just does it. Sometimes we'll do it together - like the washing up, we'll put the kids to bed, then do the washing up together and chat, then we can both relax with a coffee afterwards in front of the television.

DD does become a bit slack - I feel like I have to remind her quite a bit - but when she gets her own place, she'll see what it's like and that will most likely improve her habits. I hope. DD's main chore used to be washing up (before she started working) and often she'd go to bed and forget them. So I just checked if they were done at night, and if they weren't, I'd set my alarm for 5 am and go wake her to do them before breakfast. Trust me, it only took about 3 times doing that - she suddenly developed a much better memory and remembered to do them at night.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I'm too much of a control freak to let anyone have a try of my hoover or even get their hands on my feather duster.
I do remember the frustrations of having a house full of teenagers though and I have to tell you that throughout time two things seem to come with becoming a teenager deafness and untidiness.
My daughter now in her mid thirties was the worst ever at the time,she's going through it now with her own teenage daughter who walks around in total oblivion dropping everything anywhere and it's driving her mad.She just can't beleive she was like that herself.
I think it's great the way some of you have your children organised and helping out,if I'd did that with mine they would of made even more of a mess so I would'nt of asked them again.Good on you all.

1sttimer_2

Well, how things change (or not). It's now over 2 years since I started this thread and my DD has now moved out and has a baby herself. She can do as she pleases now. Her OH is the one to sort her out as he's the tidy one!

My OH is a little better but since I've had a foot op he's had to do everything for the last 6 weeks and now realises what I've been up against! He says he will help me a lot more but now that there is only the 2 of us he's got it fairly easy! Still I'm not complaining!

Only problem is that when he does the shopping he gloats about how little his spending is compared to mine, but doesn't think about the fact that he's using stock that I'd bought in prior to my op:rolleyes: I'll keep my trap shut and let him continue and watch him get into a mess and then when I help him out it will look good for me!