Chores Galore

We had the chance to brim with pride on Sunday (and it certainly had nothing to do with football!). The clouds looked suddenly heavy and thundery at our barbeque. The washing was on the line because I’d forgotten to wash the school uniform the day before. Our friends don’t mind. I called D (12 yrs) over and asked if he wouldn’t mind taking in the washing while the rest of us tidied up the food etc. Little star folded and flattened beautifully. And the compliments were flowing.

Our boys have had chores since they were six years old: tidying their rooms, putting clothes away, emptying the dishwasher, filling the washing machine, bringing in the washing, doing pack lunches and now they even cook. We do give them pocket money, now up to £3.50 per week. But we have never paid them to do regular chores. We do pay for the extras, like mowing the lawn - seems only fair.

Over the years we have had heard plenty backchat along the lines of, ‘None of my friends have to do this stuff!’ But as they have grown a bit older, it’s more along the lines of, ‘I can’t believe X is so lazy, he never helps his mum,’ or ‘I can’t believe Y can’t boil an egg.’ We hope these responsibilities give them confidence and self-esteem and teach them some basic life skills.

Exam Week – it's way worse for the parents

It’s been a bit of a stressy week – the dreaded exam week. I am exhausted having ‘virtually’ revised for and sat over 25 papers. Thankfully the boys (13 and 14) were totally unphased by the whole event – probably because I was there in spirit doing all the hard stuff.

I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, knowing that today is the last day. No more pressure. Wish I could be as cool as our kids. It’s the way we were brought up: to study hard, be on the ball, cover the angles, go to bed early, do practise papers. You remember those days, don't you?

It is different nowadays. The kids seem more relaxed. It’s no big deal. Of course, we have gently encouraged revision, in line with booklets from the school. So their laid back approach must be down to our adopted parenting skills (when we remember!). And I am glad the boys are laid back. It is so easy to take it all too seriously. I am going to take a leaf out of their book when exam week comes round again.

Multi-tasking men

We do give them a bit of grief, really, don’t we – you know – on the issue of multi-tasking. But I will think twice next time I am tempted.

We have a house rule – rooms to be tidied, once a week – for inspection on Thursday morning. Our definition of tidy: Mum can see the floor throughout; bed made; possibly some clothes on chair, others folded and put away or in linen basket; bits and bobs under bed or in cupboard.

I knocked on our teenager B’s door on Wednesday evening to give him the heads up about his room. When I went in he was doing his sit-ups (I think he does a mere 100 or so!). I had to take a second look to fully understand the whole situation: he was folding his clothes while he was doing his sit-ups! How cool is that? This young man can definitely multi-task.