Thursday, September 13, 2007

Because that's the way the cookie crumbles

Chili over at Don't Try This at Home is hosting a discussion about chores and allowances. In the spirit of things, I'll toss in my two cents worth.

I tend to lean towards the idea that there are certain chores that one must do simply because they must pull their weight in the family. These are things like make your bed, clean your room, put your clean clothes away, pick up your mess in the living room/play room, etc.

Since I am the "stay at home mom", most of the rest of the chores fall under my job description. So if one of the kids goes above and beyond keeping their personal mess under control and crosses over to help me with some of my duties, I've been known to give a bit of pocket change as a reward.

I've tossed around the idea of chore charts, assigned chores, and various and assundry other ideas, but the only thing that has caught on at our house is the "Because I Said So" technique. Here's how it works:

"Bubba, why don't you come unload the dishwasher?"

"How much will you pay me?"

"50 cents"

"Not interested."

"OK. Bubba, you need to come unload the dishwasher. And this time, since you passed on the generous offer of 50 cents, you can do it for free, BECAUSE I SAID SO."

6 comments:

javamamma said...

I love your 'because I said so' conversation! My kids get allowance to learn how to manage money and they do chores because...well, that's life.

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

Love your technique. :) My kids have chores they have to do just because they are part of the family. If they do something I would normally do or really don't want to do, I pay them. :) We've tried different things with allowance. Pretty much they get nothin' because we're always so strapped. Poor kids.

Lara said...

"Because I said so" can be a powerful motivator can't it?

I normally don't pay for jobs but sometimes it becomes necessary. Like when my 9 year old dishwasher goes to Grandma's for three days and I'm too sick to wash dishes while he's gone. He made $4 bucks for washing them when he got home. He was happy and I was very happy as I took a nap while he was scrubbing away!

Misty said...

LOL! That's pretty brilliant!

Sunny said...

I like it!

The Binkley Family said...

I love that "because I said so" can end the conversation. It is the FINAL ANSWER! (At least until Zach gets older and brave enough to continue arguing.)