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I don't have a maid, but my 3 year old gets very excited over taking the garbage out every morning (obviously the smaller stuff) and toss the recycling (just watch for the sharp edges). He also loves to sort the socks laundry.
I don't have a maid, but my 3 year old gets very excited over taking the garbage out every morning (obviously the smaller stuff) and toss the recycling (just watch for the sharp edges). He also loves to sort the socks laundry.
Give it a few years. My son and daughter used to love to help us hand wash dishes when they were 4 and 5. Now at 12 and 13, it takes an Act of Congress to get them to put their freaking dishes in the dish washer.
Give it a few years. My son and daughter used to love to help us hand wash dishes when they were 4 and 5. Now at 12 and 13, it takes an Act of Congress to get them to put their freaking dishes in the dish washer.
If you want to eat and have a warm bed to sleep in, you contribute doesn't work?
I actually got rid of our housekeeper the day my daughter said, "I don't have to straigten up my room, XXXX will do it." There are only 3 of us and I think we ought to be able to keep up with the housework. I don't enjoy doing it, but on a philosophical level I think we should all be responsible for the messes we make, even when working full time and/or going to school.
I don't expect everyone (anyone?) to agree with me, but it is how I feel about it.
Give it a few years. My son and daughter used to love to help us hand wash dishes when they were 4 and 5. Now at 12 and 13, it takes an Act of Congress to get them to put their freaking dishes in the dish washer.
Reminds me of my brother. He used to be obsessed with cleaning when he was 2-3. My parents actually had to discourage him from some of the cleaning. I remember them telling him that Windex and other cleaners were only for 4 and up. He was so excited on his 4th birthday since he was able to use Windex. Now he is a teenager, and all that excitement about cleaning is long gone. He'll empty the dishwasher, and clean his dishes. But that is about it.
I actually got rid of our housekeeper the day my daughter said, "I don't have to straigten up my room, XXXX will do it." There are only 3 of us and I think we ought to be able to keep up with the housework. I don't enjoy doing it, but on a philosophical level I think we should all be responsible for the messes we make, even when working full time and/or going to school.
I don't expect everyone (anyone?) to agree with me, but it is how I feel about it.
I agree with you!
I only used a maid service intermittently. I admit, I did the bulk of cleaning up the bedrooms and bathrooms in our home, although my sons did help out a lot with yard work. it seems what made the biggest impression on them was that the house was kept tidy. Maybe not pristine, but my standards aren't that high. They all complained about their college roommates being slobs. Well I'd probably describe them the same way when they were home, but somehow they recognized what a clean-enough house looked like, and how to get it.
We solved this problem when i was once too sick to keep house and DH was busy caring for me and my crazy live-in mother plus 2 kids.
We hired a nice woman to clean house every week during the summer. The kids ( 8 and 10)were home from school and I asked her to please supervise the kids while they worked along side her. I also asked her to only check up after they cleaned their own rooms. Now I know this wouldn't work with every cleaner but this woman was more than willing to help us out. She had kids about the same age so she recognized what we were trying to do. By the time school started, we had her come every other week while the children filled in between visits.
My wife and I have decided that we do not have time to clean our house, and will will be contracting with a cleaning service to clean it.
However, it is important to me that our child learn chores and responsibility. I did not learn how to do chores as a child and I struggle with them even today. I don't want to make the same mistake.
But, with having a cleaning service, I'm puzzled to how she will learn chores.
What do other parents in similar situations do to ensure their children will learn responsibility?
Did I write this post? We're in the same boat and I'm not happy about it. Why do I have to hire a cleaning lady when I have a wife and four kids (all girls 14, 11, 9, and 5)? My kids are total slobs. Their rooms look like crap, clothes everywhere, paper dishes, candy wrappers, lights left on, closet doors left open.
Chores, chores, chores. Totally overrated stuff that is not even good. And I heard the maid does some things and the kids do some things, do the parents do anything?
But kids chores are not really good. Some parents wayyy over do it. I mean, I've heard some parents say their kids need to mow the lawn, do the dishes, mop the floors, etc. THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH WORK!!!! One kid does the vacuuming, one does the sweeping, that's the way to do it! And don't assign chores, just ask for help occasionally.
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And don't assign chores, just ask for help occasionally.
