Spring Cleaning (With Child Labor)

So, it's no secret that I'm pretty exhausted most of the time.  Between my two VERY active boys with an ever growing social calendar, my husband who also needs attention, my full time job as an elementary teacher, blogging, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, and my need to have "me" time, I am pretty booked up.  

I have always been one of those people who subscribed to the belief of "if you want something done right, do it yourself," therefore I was always doing things on my own for fear of things not getting done right.  And by "right" I mean "my way."  

In the past few years I have learned to let go of this crazy notion.  I was tired of being tired.  I was tired of being the only one doing things.  So I started "letting" other people help me....especially around the house.  

My husband is really good about helping when he's home.  He will do the laundry; things may not get put away in the right place, but at least he does the cleaning.  He will also help with the grocery shopping.  He may not buy the brands that I want, but at least he goes there.  

Now I'm starting to let go of some of the cleaning chores.  I'm giving them to my kids.  They are 6 & 8 years old, I think it's time to start earning their keep around here!

Here are some ways I enlisted their help for our "spring cleaning" this year:

• Emptying the dryer
• Folding the laundry-This took a little time from me.  The socks were easy.  Folding shirts was more of an art.
• Putting away laundry-I like to lay out all of the clean and folded clothes on my bed and make piles for each family member.  Then everyone puts away their own piles.
• Putting away clean dishes-I have plastic tableware for the kids and it is kept at an easily accessible level for them.  
• Vacuuming-I made this one sound fun to "Little Ricky." (hee, hee!)
• Cleaning the shower-"The Nag" always wants to wear yellow gloves and spray a bottle.  I mixed vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle.  Then I sprinkled baking soda in each shower for him and set him to work with a scrubber.  
• Making beds-It never comes out perfect, but at least it's straight.
• Picking up toys

Again, the "cleaning" may not be how I want it, but at least it's taking some of the load off of my shoulders.  And it's teaching my kids the value of responsibility.  (and I didn't even have to pay them for it!)
  
How do you get your kids to help out around the house? 


Alexis

Why Is This Mommy Stuff So Hard?

I am a teacher of 6 year olds.  I deal with their varied behavior issues on a daily basis.  Parents come to me searching for advice on how to deal with their kids at home.  

I am a Mom of a 6 year old and I have NO IDEA how to deal with his behavior!!

Why is it so easy with someone else's child?  

Maybe I'm a sham.  Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.  How can I even think to give advice to parents when I can't even deal with my own kid?

My 6 year old is currently in a phase (or at least I HOPE it's just a phase).  He is moody, bossy, snippy, combative, a know-it-all, grumpy, whiny, and any other dwarf that you can think of!   

I've tried everything in my arsenal when dealing with his behavior:  taking away his DS, taking away his Wii, not allowing him to go to parties with his friends, and even an occasional pop on the behind.  He laughs at me when I try and reason with him, and he's overly dramatic if I yell.  I'm at my wit's end!

My husband is currently gone for 2 months and when I try and talk with him about it, he asks if I want him to talk with my out of control kiddo.  He's my last resort.  If I give in and let the big guy do the yelling, it's almost as if I'm not the one in charge....and we all know THAT'S not true!

We are now on to the way that I advise parents to deal.  The sticker chart.  This form of behavior management worked when I wanted to reason with him to sleep alone.  So we're trying it now.  

What else can I do to draw the demon out of my sweet little boy?
An exorcism?  

PLEASE HELP!
 
Alexis