Allocating housework amongst family - does this work for anyone?

taplady

Churchmouse wrote:

I would suggest:

sort washing ready for WM and how to load it. It's amazing how many people have no idea of separating even lights from darks let alone anything more refined.

Some very basic repair jobs. You know sewing a button back on, or securing a hem coming down, that type of thing.

Should be loads more but I can't think at the moment. Get back if anything occurs to me. I'm about to get back to the ironing, some of my best ideas come when I'm ironing!!;)

Thanks for that. I hadn't thought of teaching them to do the washing!;) or the sewing! I am determined that this time it will work!:rolleyes:

Hardup_Hester

My ex has recently re-married & although he did nothing for the 25 years we were married, his new wife has got him trained very quickly. She has a very strict rule, he has to do his share of the housework for a week, then he gets bedroom privileges, no housework, no nookie!! It seems to have worked a treat.
Hester

buxtonrabbitgreen

my family do nothing at all. We have different standards of hygiene and tidiness or not in thier case. All I insist on is kids putting school bags and coats in cupboard not on floor, and that they tidy up thier own rooms for pocket money, so I rarely have to pay up (very money saving) I bought a dishwasher so I didnt have to wash up all the skanky stuff when I get home from work. Every thing else I do myself on Friday on my day off. I find that nagging soes no good and wastes more of my time than doing the jobs. Funnily enough the ones who have now left home have immaculate houses. So seeing how it should be eventually rubbed off, and the other 2 will go eventually and I will have a dead easy lif.

melancholly

there was a great link from the ebay board a while back to an auction by a mother who was fed up of her family not clearing up. everything they left lying about was put in a box and was up for the highest bidder!! a very extreme solution but you have to admire her will-power!

taplady

Have started off slowly with my lot but so far today DS2 has made his bed, put washing in basket and dried up the lunch things:D

However DS1 has laid in bed till lunchtime and done nothing except slope off to a friends!:mad: he'll have a lot of making up to do later!

I have explained to them the sort of jobs I expect them to do but realise it'll be slow work, no good expecting them to change the habits of a lifetime over night!
Just have to make sure I persevere and dont give up even if it is easier doing it all myself!:rolleyes:

taplady

Back again!

Todays tasks are
1. to teach DS2 to change his sheets etc
2. DS1 to tidy bedroom and polish and vac
3. DS1 to gather up hedge clippings from garden
4. Get them both to wash up

They need to be more helpful especially as Oh is still off work with his bad back.
Let you know how we get on!:rolleyes:

lister

Ladies - I think you are missing a possible trick in educating teenage sons to do housework.

What you need to do is explain to them that most young ladies will much prefer a young man who looks after himself and his environment rather than living like a particularly grubby neanderthal. Whether or not they believe you is another matter, but it is their loss if they don't...

As for grown men who don't pull their weight, kick 'em into touch and get another (ok - there may be a few more considerations than that :cool:). What does it say when someone isn't prepared to compromise with someone they are in a long term relationship with? (actually I have come across plenty of cases where the traditional roles in the clean vs dirty war have been reversed, but the same thing applies).

My wife and I share housework pretty much on the basis of who has most time to spare. There are a few things that each of us always do - I do car/house maintenance, mow lawns etc., she always does the washing (she doesn't like how I hang it up, and I also tend to forget about it as it is hidden away in a closed basket) - but mostly we both do some of everything according to what is needed.

For the last couple of years I have had shorter work hours most of the time, so have done most of the housework. We are relocating soon, and my wife has now finished work, so at the moment, she does most of it. I really can't understand why any intelligent grown adults wouldn't come to such a sensible and straightforward arrangement.

Oddly, she is tidier than me, but I am cleaner than her if that makes sense. She is obsessive about putting things away as soon as you stop using them, whereas I am not. On the other hand, although she cleans to be tidy, she doesn't clean particularly thoroughly (IMO - which would get me into a lot of trouble at home ), whereas I am a belt and braces type of person. If I start cleaning something, then it gets well and truly cleaned. Between us this works out quite well...

taplady

lister wrote:

Ladies - I think you are missing a possible trick in educating teenage sons to do housework.

What you need to do is explain to them that most young ladies will much prefer a young man who looks after himself and his environment rather than living like a particularly grubby neanderthal. Whether or not they believe you is another matter, but it is their loss if they don't...

Thanks Lister must try that one! did try telling my youngest lad that I was teaching him to be independent ready for when he left home! - a mistake I think as he doesn't plan to leave !:rolleyes:

DS2 did manage to change his bed :j struggled with the duvet cover but I told him it would be easier with practise:D

DS1 is in the doghouse as he had a strop when it was time to do the gardening so OH blew his top and told him to go away which he promptly did for the rest of the day thus achieving nothing:rolleyes:

he came back for tea and I have now left him in his room with the polish! he aint going out till its done, and the gardening:rolleyes: especially as he needs a couple of favours from me this week!

As for the washing up OH helped at lunchtime and I did all the rest:rolleyes: as usual.

Lister you seem to have a good system going!

the_other_mce

wigginsmum wrote:

You know, I'm watching DH wash up, and he really doesn't know how. He's not using enough detergent and keeps the hot tap running to rinse it. A monumental waste of water. But I daren't say anything because he'll simply sulk!

Mine uses too much detergent, leaves the hot tap running to rinse it and "leaves things in to soak" !!!!!

Roz_V

My OH and I have an agreement...

He does the washing up every night because I do the cooking, and he hoovers the rooms that have carpet in them (and sometimes the laminated ones too :rolleyes: ) while I'm at work on a Sunday.

I do everything else (dusting, cleaning windows, washing, mopping floors, cleaning kitchen, etc) as although he's tried occasionally, I feel uncomfortable about him doing it and watch him like a hawk, pointing out all mistakes/errors :rotfl: I tidy up daily and all of his clutter gets put in a pile on top of his keyboard so that he can't play on his computer until its all put away :rotfl:

Seems to work and we're both happy... But lord help him if he criticises the way I've done something... :eek: then out comes the "I do everything in this house and if you're not happy with the way it's done, then do it yourself..." Works every time