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My sons had chores and if they did not do them then they stayed home and I took away phones, ect. I also stopped washing their clothes and they were responsible for their own washing. It didn't take long for them to do as I asked.
I agree. Your daughters, and husband, should have stepped up as soon as you were disabled with your foot injury.
Frankly, you should have been minimizing your cooking for the last nine months and asking your family to help more and more.
In my house, I basically stopped doing major evening meals about the time that my 13 year old daughter became a vegan (no milk, no meat, no fish, no butter). At the time my husband had an extremely limited diet due health reasons (no red meat, no fresh vegetables, limited fresh fruits) and our son had sports so his schedule was all goofed up (loved red meat which I disliked). It ended up that it was almost impossible to find foods, especially main dishes, that all of us could eat.
My children had been making their own breakfasts, during the week, since they were about six. It was a natural progression to making more meals as they were older.
I agree with this.
Most 13 year olds can fix themselves a basic meal. Sandwiches, canned soup or ravioli, even a basic mac n cheese, scrambled eggs, or salad. My mom was a single parent and went back to work when I was 13. I don't remember her cooking me a single meal after that. She was never home.
My kids are pretty coddled, too, but I do make them do chores for me. They know every night they are expected to help with the dishes, sweeping, and taking out the trash. It's just routine now, so no one fusses.
I also lower my expectations. I do have to remind them to do things like empty out their lunchboxes. You can always make a list of responsibilities and post it somewhere where they can reference it on the daily.
The way I handled it with my boys was to start them working along with me, when they were young--like 5. We would play around, sing songs, etc and get it done. If we were making fruit salad one would peel bananas, another slice them with a plastic knife, another pull grapes off the stem etc. No body had to do it all or do it alone. No perfectionism and not so much work at one time that it was drudgery. This is how we were raised also.
I don't generally get involved in the holier than thou threads. But you really let your girls do the housework and the boys "refuse"? Shame on you.
She is 22 and is the only one employed in her household. I think she's to be admired for stepping up and making sure her sister's kids are getting some parenting. Most 22 year olds would have packed their bags and headed to greener pastures.
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