Outsmarted by Abbi

Over the course of this school year, one area that I had kind of become lax on was the kids’ chores. They were starting to become whiney about helping around the house. Our family motto is that we are a team, which translates to the fact that we all make messes, therefore we all have a responsibility to help clean up messes. Even though I am a stay home mom, I am not a mom that does everything for my kids.  I believe my role is to teach them to become independent, responsible adults; not to be their maid. With that said, it honestly is easier just to do things for them rather than teach them how to do it themselves. This becomes a vicious monster rather quickly, though. And that monster was beginning to grow. So out comes this amazing chore chart system. I must say I was very proud of this chore chart, but it was an epic fail. Even though I spent a week making this system, it quickly came down. I knew it was just not going to work. Up goes chore system number two. It didn’t work either. Now, before you get on to me for blaming the chore system rather than my kids, let me just say that it wasn’t working for any of us. It was too much for me to keep up with. We needed simple. So out comes a single sheet of paper for each child with their list of chores and a circle to check off. Guess what? Their chores have been done every day for two weeks now.  Who knew a simple little chart printed off the computer would solve this problem! By now, you know that my daughter marches to the beat of her own drum. And that march is in the opposite direction of her mom.  Let’s just say that she brilliantly pulled one over on me with this chore chart. My boys get up each day and make their beds.  It’s one of their responsibilities. Not Abbi. She did a great job of making her bed once. And she never intended to do it again even though it's on her chore chart. She went and got a blanket, sleeps on top of her covers and covers up with the blanket. Pretty smart. In fact, so smart that I couldn’t really come up with a reason why it wasn’t acceptable. After all, her bed is made.  She outsmarted me and I decided to let her win. You know, my daughter doesn’t do hardly anything the way I would. Rather than let it annoy me or frustrate me, I am learning to appreciate her perspective and ideas. Life is so much for fun with her. Now if I could just talk Tim into letting us sleep on top of our covers so that I didn’t have to make my bed every day.