Chores

I decided sometime over the weekend that the kids should start doing chores. And I decided I'm not making a chart. I'm not offering candy for a job well done. I'm not assigning them ahead of time.

And it's working.

Monday after dinner I told Julia to bring the dishes from the table, rinse them and put them in the dishwasher. Holly got to sweep the floor. Alan wiped the table. Or maybe that was Sunday. I know Alan really wanted to get to rinse the dishes... but he called it washing. Monday I ended up doing most of that cleanup because we were hurried to get to soccer on time after eating. However, when we got home I told them the chores for the night were to clean up the bedrooms and living room. Julia scooped the cat litter without being asked. And she's done it every night since.

They aren't complaining - much. I think I even detected a twinge of pride in Julia's voice when I heard her say tonight, "We are doing chores now."