in Continuation

Yesterday afternoon, I was cleaning up our home mudroom.  It wasn't anything horrific - an easy pick up and then mopping of the floors.  The 14 year old comes down and in exasperation, states, 'Don't clean this up, this is what I am going to do for money tomorrow!"  I continue on, as I wanted to get it out of the way and i was not in the mood to wait for his when and how.   Today, late morning, I am vacuuming up the sunroom - as no one did it yesterday.  From the downstairs playroom, he marches on up, opens the door and states, "Don't vacuum this room, this is what I am going to do today to earn money for skiing."

I finish up my job and wait around - as he pranced back downstairs to work on his latest lego design.  An hour slips by, I take the liberty of folding the clothes, cleaning up breakfast dishes and dust.  12:00 roles around and he comes back upstairs with his proposed check list of chores for the day.  He was a taken aback that many of them were already done.

I quickly call a family meeting -for this whole week as been one excuse after the next as to why the three of them can not do their intended chores.  My voice raises as i explain to them the value of budgeting and prove to them that their father doesn't get to go to work on Monday and bring home money Monday evening.  Or he doesn't get to go in on Tuesday and decide to work extra hard for just a little bit more cash.  I had already instructed that 'pay day' is every other week and they have to budget their money.  They look at me as if I was crazy.  the 14 year old asks how is he supposed to go skiing tomorrow if he can't earn money today. I told them all that their mother has a compassionate heart and because she does (and because they seem to take advantage of this from time to time), I was willing to let them work today for money for tomorrow.
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Music lessons; we have two pianists and one guitarist.  75.00 a week goes out for this privilege.  The expectation from teacher and parent is that practice is 5 days a week for 30 minutes.  that has been a standard for quite some time.  This past week, the dad says, "You have not been practicing.  If this is important to you, you will find a way.  If you do not find time to practice, you will be paying for your next up coming lesson."  Present consequence: the two piano players will need to show up to class tomorrow with 25.00.  The 10 year old always has a stash of cash and this didn't' seem to phase her.  the 12 year old needs to figure out a way to earn 25.00.

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After conversation with the kids, I tell them that I am going to go take an hour to myself and jokingly tell them that I was going to go figure out a fool proof plan for chores in this family.  We generally discuss what would be a good plan and I leave on a high note with them.  We were laughing, I hugged them, told them that I love them and said i would be back in an hour and as i was closing the door behind me, I loudly said, 'Use this time wisely."

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3:40pm.  I have been home for an hour and a half.  the 14 year old has done some chores, but i have not inspected them.  When i came home, he was desensitizing all the door handles and when he finished he came to me and said, "When you were gone, i looked on line for high paying chore jobs and cleaning the door handles pays out 5.00."  To which i replied, "And who's family did this come from? ... Not yours"

The 12 and 10 year old were happily having lunch.  As I conversed with them, I asked lightly, "So, what did you did during this hour to be productive?"  "We read." came the unison answer.

3:42: 12 year old and 14 year old are outside with friends and will soon be going to the park.  10 year old is now asking if i can play a game of cards with her.

I told their father this morning that all this is going to rest with him when he gets home.  Tonight, we will have a family meeting and one more chore system will be put into place.  I have tried way too many and none seem to be successful. any ideas?

ongoing
thanks