Hi IM's,
My partner and I just found out we have both now got full time work (from having no work) and we're starting within a few days of each other.
We have 2 of his 3 children living with us, twin 14 year old girls who are going through that delightful stage of doing exactly what they are asked for no more but will try and get away with less of at all possible.
I'm just wondering what sort of jobs you get your teenagers to do around the house? I have an hour and a half commute each way minimum and normally I am on dinner which means it's not going to get started until at least 6.30-7.
Also how do you get your teenagers to do these things around the house without arguments? If we could get one chore done without attitude or sass I think I might be hysterical!
Thanks in advance!
3 Replies
At the very least they can be responsible for there own washing, that includes sheets and towels. They should also be responsible for there own rooms. Now that might mean its not done to your schedule or to your standards but that is ok. They are learning and the day they wake up in the morning and realise there are is no clean underwear they will start to get it!
I also think they can start cooking a simple meal once a week each. Doesn't have to be fancy. You might be surprised if they get to choose what they cook they might really enjoy it. Also who cooks in our house doesn't have to clean up! So make it a thing you all do together (the after dinner clean up) and it goes much faster.
Make the slow cooker your friend, you can put it on in the morning so its cooked when you get home from work.
I have to admit my now 20year old breezed through the teenage years, so I can't give you any advice. I can tell you when I was growing up we knew that we had privileges like extra curricular activities, nice clothes etc but if we acted like brats we would not have those things! I think though my parents didn't care about the schedule, or perfection they were just happy it was done, over time we developed that part :) So if it took me 1 hour to do the dishes then that was my problem lol
they're 14, they can do washing, dishes, tiding up the lounge, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom you think of it they can do it. I was doing this stuff from the age of 8. I started cooking meals for the family at 12. have a chores list of stuff they have to do each day (not too many though).
No teenager is going to want to do these things and of course they are going to argue with you about it sorry.... your better off giving them some sort of incentive ie pocket money, free time, a trip to the shops. But also remember they are in their first few years of high school so don't give them so many chores that they can't get their homework done for school.
Also give them different lists so they can do things separately when teens do the same jobs they tend to argue. I agree with the first poster on a lot of what she has said don't focus on it being perfect just that they did it. And use your slow cooker you can use it for almost everything. if you need pasta or rice you can cook those things in the microwave and they take about 20 mins and get the girls to cook give them basic ingredients and a 4 ingredient recipe book and you'll be surprised with what they can come up with.
When I was young my family was VERY POOR. So when my mother got her first job since having kids and I was 14 my sis 13 and bro 9 it was all we could do to help (hell we might not have to wear op shop clothes anymore). So the rest of my comments relate to the fact that we were mostly willing participants, you need to find a way to get your girls to be willing.
We would walk 1km home from the bus stop, have a snack, feed water and collect eggs from 400 chickens, walk the dog, either prepare dinner or start cooking it depending what it was, start our homework, prepare ourselves for the next day.
Really I think at the age of 14 there is nothing you can't give them to do, with a bit of guidance.