***PSD***

missyishere

Since you have a couple older children, I want to know how you handle chores.  We really don't have SD do really any chores besides clean her room.  Since I'm a SAHM, I take care of most cleaning, but I feel she's at an age of some sort of responsibility.  If I've ever asked her to do something here and there, she's game with whatever.  She really has no schedule from our home to her mother's, so it's difficult to create a chore schedule. That's a whole other issue... Do your two oldest have specific chores all of the time or do they rotate?  I also have a rule in place that if she doesn't take her dirty clothes to the laundry room for an extended period of time, she gets to clean them herself. 

cantalopes24

E does a bunch of chores. He helps me empty the dishwasher sometimes but not always. He cleans the toilet in his bathroom and the powder room once a week. He will sometimes do the master bath and basement toilet if I am busy. He vacuums his room and the babies and the hallway as well as sweeps and vacuums or Swiffers the entire first floor and finished part of our basement once a week and as needed in between. He is also responsible for helping to walk the dog and feed the dog, fish and hermit crab. I fold his laundry and he carries it to his room and puts it away, he also is responsible for putting it in the laundry basket and helping me sort it. He sets the table and sometimes helps me cook and usually when MH is doing things out in the yard that don't involve the lawn mower or weed whacker he goes out there and helps as best he can.

ETA: I forgot about dusting. He dusts the first floor and his room and is required to help with Lola as needed.

pennysuedog

We struggle somewhat on being consistent.  but here it is:

1. When it is light outside Audrey lets the dog in and out
2. When it is dark Oliver lets the dog in and out. Plus he walks the dog when he gets home from school, and feeds and waters her.
   
3. They both have to help with V when asked
4. They both have to help clean up after supper(dishwasher, wash table...) this usually take 10 minutes.
   
5. Thursday they have to clean up their rooms, and bring down their laundry.  (if they do a good job they get paid $2, if they whine they get nothing)
6. We usually have family clean up time a couple times a week.  I give them stop watches and tell them to go spend X amount of time cleaning Y
7. They are asked to the occasional odd job, anything I think is above and beyond I usually tell them it is worth a dollar. (like they had to wash out the old fridge)
   
8. In the summer they have to pick up twigs before I mow and help water plants in the yard.  I also make them help rake.
9. Oliver helps a lot in preparing meals he fetches things from the freezer and he can brown hamburger and sausage.  He also makes breakfast for Audrey (I'm usually at work, MH is home) Audrey likes to help too but she is still learning.

Other random things they help with sometimes

matching socks

folding laundry

vacuuming

dusting

garden work

shovel the driveway

 

I do not have them:

clean toilets or use any harsh chemicals

mow the grass (way to steep for O)

use the snowblower

wash laundry

use the stove, oven, knives when I'm not around

I have to say Oliver is really good at helping when asked or reminded.  Sometimes I don't bother with Audrey because it is easier just to do it myself. 

 

RoxRing

I am training Edison to match socks early.  I hate it!