We had a family council this morning during our scripture study. Kevin and I (Mostly I) have been having struggles keeping the kids on task. As soon as they come home they want to do other things besides chores and homework. I have been feeling like a task master and I don't like saying "NO" so often. We decided to make up charts. We already have chore charts and the kids have been doing well (after being told a few times). I was always being bombarded with "Can I play now?", "What else do I have to do?" and so on. Multiply that by four (cause the younger two have very few chores) and it gets daunting.
So now when the kids come home they can get their paper. (I'll get a clip board to put them on) Mark off what they need to do and bring it back to me when it's complete, and I will give the final check off to play.
There have also been times that they have said their rooms were clean and beds made and after inspection they were not! We discussed this as well. The kids agreed that if they mark off the box without completing the task they will loose their game time.
I'm going to try and let things slide such as them not getting their tasks done (on my time) because in the end it's up to them when they are going to play.
Although we have talked that if Mom asks for things to be done and it's ignored they get an extra chore from a list I've made. Just little things such as, wiping out the microwave, fridge, toaster etc. There are some times when they have to complete a chore before others, like if one kid has to sweep before the other one can mop. It's not nice to make the one who has to mop wait when he or she has all the other items checked off the list. Well here's hoping this works!
