When I was a child, my mom would ask me to wash the dishes, and I’d trudge to the sink, grumbling, “The only reason you had kids was to make someone else do the chores.” Now that I’m a parent, I see how silly that thought was. Parents don’t have kids just to delegate cleaning duties. They have kids to help out with the myriad tasks that make up the relentless cycle of household maintenance. Let’s face it—kids are a source of free labor. Plus, teaching them responsibility and a work ethic is beneficial for their future. By assigning chores, I’m being a responsible parent while freeing up time for my own pursuits, like pinning creative projects on Pinterest that I’ll never actually attempt.
Running a household smoothly requires significant effort, so I recently decided it was time for my kids to start contributing. If they’re going to use up all my toilet paper, drain my data plan with their devices, and empty the pantry, then they can certainly pitch in while enjoying their rent-free lives.
Until now, they’ve had an easy ride. Sure, they had small chores, but those mainly involved tidying up after themselves: making their beds, clearing their dishes, and similar tasks. Despite my countless reminders—okay, nagging—I still find myself sweeping up their crumbs, retrieving dirty socks from under beds, and tossing wrappers from between couch cushions because the trash can is just too far away.
In the past, I took on these tasks myself because it was simply easier in the short term. I’ve been managing the household routine for so long that I could do it in my sleep. I’ve found the most efficient ways to tackle everything, from scrubbing toilets to vacuuming carpets. However, I’m not doing anyone—myself, my kids, or their future roommates—any favors by shouldering the bulk of the chores.
If I don’t teach them how to handle these responsibilities or set the expectation that they should, I’m essentially telling them it’s not their job. But it is. I refuse to raise a bunch of messy teenagers who see “Mom” as merely a maid or, even worse, allow them to grow into lazy adults who leave their dirty laundry for their partners to deal with. The thought horrifies me.
So, I’ve reached my limit. This determined mom has decided it’s time for the kids to assist with household chores. There’s just one small problem: I have high standards when it comes to cleanliness, and they are young children who couldn’t care less about keeping the house tidy. I could replace the couch with a mountain of empty pizza boxes, and they’d simply adapt and continue playing video games.
For everyone’s sake, I’m putting my high standards aside while I watch them slowly and clumsily tackle everyday chores that I could complete in a fraction of the time. It’s infuriating.
As they navigate tasks like cleaning the litter box, I find myself biting my tongue to avoid interference. On the surface, I appear calm, but inside, I’m a whirlwind of frustration: “There’s a mess—pick it up! NO! Don’t try to scoop everything at once! Oh no, it’s on your hands!” I could visualize the laundry room overflowing with bubbles while they overdo it with detergent. I could probably squeeze in a spa day in the time it takes them to clean the toilet properly—but of course, I’m too busy supervising. Despite the time it takes and their clumsiness, I remain silent, occasionally offering a helpful tip, knowing they need to learn to do it themselves. This is the only way they’ll grasp the concept of proper cleaning.
Unfortunately.
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In summary, teaching kids to contribute around the house is a challenging yet necessary undertaking. While it can be frustrating to watch them bumble through chores, it’s essential for their development and future independence. By stepping back and letting them learn, I hope to instill in them the importance of responsibility and teamwork in maintaining a household.