Having Kids Was Easier Before I Had Kids: "Chores" Edition

For real.  I genuinely feel like motherhood has come naturally to me, but that still doesn't mean that it's easy.  I could probably base this entire blog off of ways that parenting has not gone according to plan.  And I've only been a parent for three years, so...

One of the many things that I just knew I'd be so great at once I had kids was teaching them how to work and help out around the house.  You train them to do "chores" (I hate that word) from a young age, and then they automatically grow up wanting to help, right?  Maybe in some households and with some kids that's true, but it certainly hasn't been the case with mine!  Don't get me wrong, Em is really a pretty great kid.  But man, she has got one strong personality!  I don't ever want to take her strong personality away, but I so wish getting her to help pick up her toys wasn't such a battle.  It would be so much easier and quicker if I just did it for her, but alas, that wouldn't teach her a dang thing.  At least, it wouldn't teach her a dang thing that I actually want her to learn.  

There are a few things that my kids love to do around the house, so I make sure try to give them the opportunity to do those things as often as possible.  Em likes rinsing her dishes.  It's fine that it takes her forever to drag a chair to the sink so she can actually reach.  It's also fine that my kitchen floor has an inch of water on it when she's done.  She also loves to fill up water.  She's good at that one.

Check out those calves.  Dang, girl!

Even little Nora likes to help.  It's no secret that she loves to vacuum.  She thinks she can do it by herself, but she can't.  She helps for a few minutes, and then she just tries to give the vacuum hugs and kisses. While I'm still trying to vacuum.  So obviously vacuuming takes pretty much all day.

She loves her own Minnie vacuum, but she doesn't love it enough to keep her away from the real one.

Nora also likes to unload dishes.  I dedicated one of my lower cupboards to kids' dishes for this very purpose.  Now Nora just needs to learn that everything doesn't actually belong in that cupboard.

I'm still working on this aspect of parenting, but in my 3+ years of experience, here are some things that seem to work so far:

1.  Make it fun.  Easier said than done.  Especially when the jobs take forever and a day to accomplish when kids help.  We race or put on some fun music and dance while we go.
2.  Thank them for being helpful.  I think most kids are born wanting to help and feel needed.  Who doesn't want to feel important?
3.  Don't set your expectations too high.  They are kids.  Of course Em's version of cleaning her room isn't going to be the same as mine.  Heck, my husband's version of cleaning isn't the same as mine either.  


I'd love to hear what works or has worked in your family.  As always, feel free to comment below!