Ah, New Year’s—a time for resolutions, fresh starts, and of course, new chores! Growing up, my mom worked harder than anyone I knew. I always had what I wanted: school activities, sports, parties. I was the definition of a busy, social butterfly, constantly bouncing from dance team to gymnastics to whatever else was on my schedule. But guess what? I wasn’t exempt from chores. In fact, I helped around the house by making dinner, watching my sister, and doing the laundry.
Now, as a parent myself, I realize that our kids will never truly understand the effort we put into making sure they have what they want—until they have kids of their own. It’s funny, they think the world revolves around them (as they should), but in my house, that world revolves around earning what you get. My husband calls it “pulling your weight,” and I’m all about it. Want a new toy, extra screen time, or a few Vbucks? Sure, but first you’ve got to earn it. That usually means pulling weeds. Yes, weeds. Why? Because the outside world clearly has it out for me, and pulling weeds is my personal nightmare. So, if my kids want something extra, the garden gets a makeover.
What really blows my mind, though, is how many of my children’s friends don’t have to do chores at all! I can’t even wrap my head around it. At my house, everyone has a role. The kids wash their own clothes, put them away, alternate doing the dishes, wash the towels, take out the trash, and clean up specific rooms. The older they get, the more responsibility they get (I’m looking forward to the day when they’re old enough to cut the grass—just pray the lawn mower isn’t too much for them!). And my sister? She’s got my three-year-old nephew folding towels, and let me tell you, his pride when he shows me his “new skill” over FaceTime is the cutest thing ever.
So here’s the million-dollar question: Do you have your kids do chores? I was curious about this, so I looked up the national average. You know what I found? While most parents do chores themselves, only 28 percent actually make their kids pitch in. Let that sink in. If you want your kids to thrive in the real world—whether it’s at school, work, or in their relationships—teaching them responsibility and teamwork now is key.
Wishing you and your family a happy, productive New Year! Time to teach those kiddos how to fold towels and pull some weeds!
