When my son turned 8 this summer, he was told that he would start having chores. You see, my boyfriend and I convinced him that WE were both 8 when we started carrying more responsibilities around the house. My son, being quite quick-witted says "How much allowance will I get?" Ok, so I can't fault him for being an entrepeneur. This is the kid who writes his own comic book on lined paper and wants to sell copies for $2 a piece on the playground, so I should have seen the negotiations coming. Nevertheless, we all agreed on $5 a week if he completed everything.
We made a nice, colorful chart on the computer for each day of the week and even bought the shiny stars that teachers use to say "Good job!" on a piece of homework. The chores started out small with things like Brush Teeth and Shower. Little by little though, we added more items to the list such as Clean Room, Feed Rabbit and Take Out Garbage.
We are now on our 2nd month of chores and have finally added Dust and Vacuum Living Room to the list (only once a week). He actually seems to enjoy being challenged and feeling like he is "grown up." However, there is a part of me that wonders whether having all these chores is a way to help teach him to contribute to a household or a way to take a few things off my plate. But then I realize, does it matter?! Someday he will meet a nice girl who will be quite impressed with his abilitiy to pick up a vacuum and a dust cloth without being nagged.
But since that day is far away, I can sit back and revel in the fact that there are FINALLY a few things I can take off my to-do list! And all that for only $5 a week.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment