Comments on: P365 - Day 63 (Cleaning Helpers) http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/ The musings and ravings of a bloggart family Mon, 1 Dec 2008 22:51:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Rachel B http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-580 Rachel B Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:05:47 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-580 We have no allowances or ways for our kids to earn money. Of course, when they do acquire money, they don't keep it very well (except Jack), so it usually ends up lost before it's spent. But I might have to implement a clean & pay system. Cheerful attitudes is worth some money. :) And I like the computer chips idea, too! We have no allowances or ways for our kids to earn money. Of course, when they do acquire money, they don’t keep it very well (except Jack), so it usually ends up lost before it’s spent. But I might have to implement a clean & pay system. Cheerful attitudes is worth some money. :) And I like the computer chips idea, too!

]]> By: KME http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-555 KME Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:18:34 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-555 Jennifer - I'm sure you can 'motivate' your kiddos. The hard thing, in my opinion, is that the house is so quickly messy again. Maybe that's why David was worrying about starting the work all over the next day. It's certainly true that it rarely stays picked up (I'm looking at clutter and dirty laundry right now as I type). Cash, candy and computer chips go a long way in my family. Ha! Tina - I thought the exact same thing about the whiteboard (especially after I added one more chore AFTER the 'wash the board' job). Thankfully I don't seem to have any devious, sneaky children who would try something underhanded like that. Of course, you can erase the list but the work is still there - just look around and it's easy to see. :) Jennifer - I’m sure you can ‘motivate’ your kiddos. The hard thing, in my opinion, is that the house is so quickly messy again. Maybe that’s why David was worrying about starting the work all over the next day. It’s certainly true that it rarely stays picked up (I’m looking at clutter and dirty laundry right now as I type).

Cash, candy and computer chips go a long way in my family. Ha!

Tina - I thought the exact same thing about the whiteboard (especially after I added one more chore AFTER the ‘wash the board’ job). Thankfully I don’t seem to have any devious, sneaky children who would try something underhanded like that. Of course, you can erase the list but the work is still there - just look around and it’s easy to see. :)

]]> By: KME http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-554 KME Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:15:48 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-554 Tina - thank you for all the hours of cleaning and sorting you've given me over the years. You are a good friend!! When AJ was working/helping me with the kids she got very good at organizing toys. She finally figured out all the little pieces in the boys' room were either Playmobil or a Lego. Funny! Tina - thank you for all the hours of cleaning and sorting you’ve given me over the years. You are a good friend!! When AJ was working/helping me with the kids she got very good at organizing toys. She finally figured out all the little pieces in the boys’ room were either Playmobil or a Lego. Funny!

]]> By: Tim http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-548 Tim Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:21:44 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-548 It was interesting to see how the afternoon played out. Daniel and Rachel both commented on how it was nice to be paid for their labor midway through the work ... initially we all thought (except for Kathy) that the first hour of work was all that would be required. But jobs kept appearing on the whiteboard, even after we had nearly everything crossed out. I was about ready to quit, and Kathy said, "We need another push to get everything done." Looking around, there <i>were</i> a few more things that needed to be done, and so I began working on one or two of the jobs while assigning others. Several of the kids had been outside to play for a few minutes, and Joshua had a chance to sit down and read a blog, and so everyone seemed to be willing to get up and put another 30-40 minutes into cleaning the house, with a cheerful spirit. Rootbeer floats when it was all over helped to make it special, I thought -- good idea, Kathy! In the movie, <i>The Family Man</i>, the family goes out to buy some things at the mall, acquiring some "Mary Janes" (shoes, I guess) for their little girl. The "husband", who is missing the prestige of his Wall Street job, wants to buy an expensive suit, and, in a rather plaintive voice complains, "Where are <i>my</i> Mary Janes?" After a rather childish scene, he settles for an elephant ear or some sort of sugary waffle thing -- no where as good as a Root Beer Float, in my opinion. At the end of the day, as I happily played an hour on the computer, redeeming one of the chips that I earned, I asked Kathy, "What did you get out of all this cleaning? Where are <i>your</i> Mary Janes?" Part of it (for her) is the joy of having a clean house, something I will never really understand. And perhaps part of it is the fun of having us all chip in (pun intended) and help her in what is usually "her" work. I can't help feeling that she was somewhat short-changed. Maybe I can buy her a magazine or she can get a coffee or something? As for me, I <i>still</i> have a couple of chips -- life is good. :) It was interesting to see how the afternoon played out. Daniel and Rachel both commented on how it was nice to be paid for their labor midway through the work … initially we all thought (except for Kathy) that the first hour of work was all that would be required. But jobs kept appearing on the whiteboard, even after we had nearly everything crossed out.

I was about ready to quit, and Kathy said, “We need another push to get everything done.” Looking around, there were a few more things that needed to be done, and so I began working on one or two of the jobs while assigning others. Several of the kids had been outside to play for a few minutes, and Joshua had a chance to sit down and read a blog, and so everyone seemed to be willing to get up and put another 30-40 minutes into cleaning the house, with a cheerful spirit. Rootbeer floats when it was all over helped to make it special, I thought — good idea, Kathy!

In the movie, The Family Man, the family goes out to buy some things at the mall, acquiring some “Mary Janes” (shoes, I guess) for their little girl. The “husband”, who is missing the prestige of his Wall Street job, wants to buy an expensive suit, and, in a rather plaintive voice complains, “Where are my Mary Janes?” After a rather childish scene, he settles for an elephant ear or some sort of sugary waffle thing — no where as good as a Root Beer Float, in my opinion.

At the end of the day, as I happily played an hour on the computer, redeeming one of the chips that I earned, I asked Kathy, “What did you get out of all this cleaning? Where are your Mary Janes?” Part of it (for her) is the joy of having a clean house, something I will never really understand. And perhaps part of it is the fun of having us all chip in (pun intended) and help her in what is usually “her” work. I can’t help feeling that she was somewhat short-changed. Maybe I can buy her a magazine or she can get a coffee or something? As for me, I still have a couple of chips — life is good. :)

]]> By: Aunt Kate http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-547 Aunt Kate Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:59:00 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-547 Lovely house, lovely helping children, dear godly parents. Yea!! I love you Edgrens!! AK Lovely house, lovely helping children, dear godly parents.

Yea!! I love you Edgrens!! AK

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-546 Jennifer Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:19:39 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-546 Can you send some of that motivation to my house?? Hee hee, I have a suspicion that "I" will need to be the source of the motivation which means...hmmmm...what does that mean!? I guess I'd better get off the computer and find a white board! Good day tomorrow Kathy, see you soon! Can you send some of that motivation to my house?? Hee hee, I have a suspicion that “I” will need to be the source of the motivation which means…hmmmm…what does that mean!? I guess I’d better get off the computer and find a white board!
Good day tomorrow Kathy, see you soon!

]]> By: tina http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-545 tina Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:00:27 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-545 I just noticed that one of the chores was 'wash white board'. Good thing some clever child did not choose to do that one first and thus do away with all the rest of the chores! haha I just noticed that one of the chores was ‘wash white board’. Good thing some clever child did not choose to do that one first and thus do away with all the rest of the chores! haha

]]> By: tina http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-544 tina Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:57:48 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/p365-day-63-cleaning-helpers/#comment-544 Yeah for cheerful helpers! Not only are they learning how to work together as a family to get the job done, but just think how equipped they will be when (don't think about it too much right now!) they are out on their own and do not have a sweet mother to make the list for them. Cleaning and organizing skills are just as important as cooking and 'job' skills. Not that our home is so clean and organized all the time, but I am with you Kathy, it is much more enjoyable to me when it is! I remember several afternoons on the Duckabush in boys rooms sorting small pieces of I am not even sure what, chatting and cleaning and enjoying your company! Tina Yeah for cheerful helpers! Not only are they learning how to work together as a family to get the job done, but just think how equipped they will be when (don’t think about it too much right now!) they are out on their own and do not have a sweet mother to make the list for them.
Cleaning and organizing skills are just as important as cooking and ‘job’ skills. Not that our home is so clean and organized all the time, but I am with you Kathy, it is much more enjoyable to me when it is!
I remember several afternoons on the Duckabush in boys rooms sorting small pieces of I am not even sure what, chatting and cleaning and enjoying your company!
Tina

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