saturday jobs.

We try to teach the kids that we work together as family to keep our house clean.  They don't get an allowance, but they sometimes get rewarded with a treat or a fun family outing.   Each day they are responsible for cleaning their rooms, making their beds, doing their homework and helping with a special job for Mommy (like setting the table, helping with dinner, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming or taking the trash out). 

On Saturdays we work really hard in the morning so we can play really hard in the afternoon.  They each do their regular chores as well as something extra for Daddy.  Here's a list of what they did last week just to give you an idea: 

Lincoln = vacuumed the living room and dining room

(he had to move all of the chairs into the living room in order to do the dining room)

Grace = empty the dishwasher

Graham = sweep and mop the kitchen with daddy

Jayne = help Graham.

Some weeks it's a real struggle to get them to help, but it usually works out.  They are learning that if we work together, the jobs get done a lot quicker.  While we aren't perfect, we are sure trying to teach them life lessons along the way!  It's hard work, being a parent.