Ok, I've been trying, DESPERATELY I might add, to get the kids to do their chores. UMM, yeah right!  As if they WANT to do that. It has been an uphill battle from day one. Ok, Day one wasn't so long ago. LOL, I have really neglected this aspect of my parenting job. DOH! I've failed!!!  . . . . .Ok, Over it!

In the hopes of making things EASIER on mom! I went hunting in the "ALL ANSWERS ARE AVAILABLE" web. Yes, I did search the net for some semblence of help. FLYLADY does not work for me. I don't have the discipline to maintain it. So I did a search for something that would better fit my "freestyle" lifestyle. And I came up with this: CHORE BUSTERS. (please see link over there:  --------> ) It randomly assigns chores (that you selected) to individuals in your family based on how busy that person is that day. You can even say that certain chores can NOT be assigned to specific people. Or give DAD so many points for working all day--that way he doesn't get bombarded with 20 points worth of chores after working 12 hours!! Poor guy would die from exhaustion! LOL, but he doesn't always get out of it! It even gives random free days based on how many chores have been done by each person!

Another Fantastic Find that I have is Parenting Breakthrough by Merilee Browne Boyack. It's a funny, down to earth, REALISTIC approach. She has a list that she calls "THE PLAN." It's a list of ages 3 to 18 and tasks that each age SHOULD be able to do. This list is the base for getting your children motivated and ready to become independent and OUT on their own. It even covers Financies and investing in THEIR future. It was a really eye opener, and belly giggler!  I never realized how many thing I DO for the kids that, in all honesty, they CAN do for themselves. Like their Laundry! How many loads of laundry do I do each week?  According to the list--a 10 year old CAN be responsible for their own laundry. Thinking back, I KNOW that I was responsible for my clothes at an early age. I don't know WHY I never insisted that my oldest take over that task for herself. It's been amazing how much I need to teach them to prepare them to move out--in the FAR future. But that future is coming closer everyday! 

I took Merilee's advice--I followed her plan of teaching how to do things. My oldest DD (11) Is now in the process of 1) Taking over her Laundry--I taught her how to run the washer/dryer a while a go!! and 2) She is in the Training session of MOPPING the KITCHEN FLOOR! And NO complaints. I have only one thought on that. It's because I'm in there teaching her--and not just saying go do it. And expecting her to KNOW what I want. I'm walking her step by step on how I EXPECT it to be done. And I'm not accepting 1/2 way jobs!  now will this fantasy last?  Probably not, but it's nice while it does!  My favorite line in Merilee's book is " Parent's must get a backbone!" I can't remember when I lost mine, but I think I've found it!! : )