[tempus vernum]

Originally Posted by zak

I am related to people ("the cousins") who are doing hard labor-y chores from like age 4. I am hyper sensitive and worried I am messing my kids up because they are pigs. Like seriously, their 4-5 year olds could clean a bathroom (CLEAN it), load/empty the dish washer, put their laundry away, vacuum/mop. And a ton of other things too. I feel like I am doing something wrong and/or raising lazy boys. (Yes, my oldest is 8).

WHOA! Well, I am SO not into hard labor for children and you are NOT raising lazy boys My goal is not to work my kids to death but make them capable of cleaning so that they have life skills and keep myself from being totally miserable.

I personally feel I start my kids young but here is a little perspective on what is meant by that. My 7 year old has just learned to load the dishwasher - she's been emptying with my help since 18 months (she likes the silverware but doesn't ever empty dishes cuz they get broken - we use almost no plastic). Putting away laundry w/help starts at 5 (7 year old is doing without help now but only since she turned 7). Mop/vacuum is for fun only until about 11 and even then I chip in. Bathroom cleaning. Okay, my son has been CLEAN CLEANING the bathroom since age 3 but that was montessori based therapy due to steroid rage and not something I did with any other kids. My oldest (just turned 13) just learned to clean the bathroom - ds likes to do it so much that even I rarely clean the bathroom

My goal is by 14 that they can clean the whole house although my son is already capable of cleaning the whole house but he's not only tidy but likes cleaning. The girls? Not so much - not their bent and I require it of them for life skills.

I really like Jane Nelson's chore guide in Positive Discipline A-Z. She lists chores that are developmentally appropriate

---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Teacher Mom

just seeing this post, but this has been me lately

My kids are 14 and 12. I feeeeeeeel like I am going insane beating my head against a brick wall!!!!!!!

I repeat myself CONSTANTLY!!!!

and my son is entering puberty....oh Lord have mercy......he's smart mouthed, forgetful, funny, and angry all rolled in one.

I keep trying (repeat trying) to remind myself that this too shall pass and they will be gone before I blink.

This will pass

My son has been entering puberty for a while now UGH. . . the hormones are horrid. He finds cleaning to be therapeutic but as I said above, he LIKES it