Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Maid




I feel like I am contantly telling the boys in my life "I am NOT your maid". My four year old always shakes his head, but the next day the house looks the same as the day before. I always seem to pick up the messes myself and I need to learn to be patient and make him do it. I guess in theory it would be great if I made him pick up every time he makes a mess and then he would not make the mess anymore.

It's funny to me how he can make the mess and then when asked to pick it up he always seems to need help because the mess is too big for one person. How do you explain to a 4 year old that if it wasn't too big to make it isn't too big to pick up? So, here I am again about to go down stairs and pick up his mess with no consequences! I always have next time (tomorrow) to have him do it all by himself.

How do you have your children help around the house? And where in the world do you get patients?

2 comments:

  1. Yes, this is a battle that is often easier just to say, forget it, and do it yourself.

    We have the rule that they need to clean up a toy before they get another one out, but well.. it isn't followed much.
    We do make the kids clean up everything before bed time, but this often becomes a battle within itself.
    We have recently stated setting the timer for a certain amount of time, and we all clean for that time. Whatever is not cleaned up at the end of that time, is put in a garbage bag, and they have to clean the next day to earn it back.
    Since we have started this, it has been amazing how quickly they have been able to clean.
    Good luck! And thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  2. I hear ya Sistah! This seems to be a global problem and I feel some research money should be invested in coming up with a solution. It you find one - PLEASE let me know.

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