The Chore Book

I have developed "The Chore Book" to help keep some semblance of order in my home.

Of course, this was developed before I ever got active with the internet! Things have changed slightly in the last month or so ...

To help keep my teens from boredom i.e., the same 'ol chores day after day, I developed the following concept for our chore book and surprisingly enough it works for us!

Before I started, I assigned a number to every possible chore that can be done in my house, i.e.:

• 1. Make bed and straighten room (pick up stuff off floor)
• 2. After dinner clean up (In our house, EVERYONE is required to rinse their own plate and put one item away, for instance, the one item could be - the ketchup.  After dinner cleanup consists of wiping down the table, stovetop, countertops and putting the dishes in dishwasher. I always clean the pots and pans.)
• 3. Dust all the ceiling fans throughout the house
• 4. Take kitchen, baths and bedroom trash containers, and  place contents in city receptacle at street.
• 5. Clean main bath INCLUDING toilet
• 6. Hose off back patio
• 7. Vacuum family room (tv and computer room)
• 8. Vacuum under couches in living room (front room)
• 9. Windex kitchen window
• 10. Sweep sidewalk in front of house, driveway and walkway leading to house
• 11. Vacuum and dust your bedroom

The following chart (sample only) is placed in the front of the chore book each Sunday night.

• Monday:
• Kid 1: #1, #2, plus your laundry
• Kid 2: #1, #4
• Kid 3: #1, #17
• Mom- : #1, #23
• Tuesday:
• Kid 1: #1, #8
• Kid 2: #1, #2, plus your laundry
• Kid 3: #1, #19
• Mom- : #1, #25
• Wednesday:
• Kid 1: #1, plus make up chore by 6 p.m.
• Kid 2: #1, plus make up chore by 6 p.m.
• Kid 3: #1, plus make up chore by 6 p.m.
• Mom- : #1, plus make up chore by 6 p.m.
• Thursday:
• Kid 1: #1, #42
• Kid 2: #1, #10
• Kid 3: #1, #4, plus your laundry
• Mom- : #1, #33
• Friday:
• Kid 1: #1, #9, #11
• Kid 2: #1, #61, #11
• Kid 3: #1, #52, #11
• Mom- : #1, #23, #11, plus your laundry
• Saturday:
• Kid 1: #1, plus make up chore by noon
• Kid 2: #1, plus make up chore by noon
• Kid 3: #1, plus make up chore by noon
• Mom- : #1, plus make up chore by noon, plus more laundry

Now, on Wednesday's we go to church in the evening since the teens are quite active in their youth group, so our chore time is limited. All I require for that day is their bedroom (#1). The same for Saturdays because it's the weekend and we all have things we have/need/want to do.

Wednesday & Saturday is make up day since no major chores are assigned on those days.  If chore #1 is not done on any given day, the person MUST do a make up chore of the equivalent time value (determined by me) by the next makeup day. The 2nd chore for each day is not negotiable, but must be done sometime during the week if not done on its assigned day. (see how reasonable I am?)

Personally it is really No Big Deal to me if they don't make their bed each day (thankfully,they *DO* have doors that shut!)  BUT, if they don't make their beds and do light pickup, their consequence is; I get yet another chore out of them!  I am totally amazed at what my teens are willing to do instead of making their bed!!

I get my windowsills (#63) dusted often, the silverware tray (#46) wiped and cleaned regularly, my pantry cupboard (#79) is always organized and the dog is brushed (#16) at least 3 times weekly! My only requirement on the extra chore is that it can't already have been done during the current week, except for brushing the dog (#16).  Since I'm allergic to her, she can't be brushed enough!

If all chores are not done by Saturday at noon, then the minimal allowance my teens receive is withheld (ouch-ette!) and also, they cannot leave the house for the weekend (BIG OUCH!). Unless, of course, they want to do some heavy duty ... cleaning - at my discretion!! Yep -- I am one mean mother!

We all know that there are certain chores that need to be done with some regularity, i.e., daily, once or twice per week, once per month, quarterly, etc.

The person in charge of the chore book must display the attributes of a sound mind and must alternate the chores fairly between all family members or there will be WAR. Teens have an uncanny knack for remembering who did what, when!  I always save the former week's chores in the back of my book to prove my point when we're in the middle of a "whodidwhatwhen" argument.

May I suggest also, if you choose to adopt a similar program in your household, implement it before your children become teens!!  I started this program when my children were mid-teen, and was met with a lot of resistance. But, I have remained consistent with them (It pays to carry a big stick and yell and scream a lot!)

How on earth did I ever come up with this crazy idea? I just happened to have been influenced by a meticulous, nitpickin' perfectionist engineer as a former husband!  And ... I got custody of the chore book since it was the only idea of his that ever worked!

Let me know how you keep your household chores organized -- I could be certainly be persuaded to try something new.  Each year, these teens of mine get older and wiser!

Just a little addition ...