Chores and Choices

I have wrestled with issue of chores, allowances, etc. for quite some time now. I do not want the kids to think they deserve to be paid for doing their part in our family. So we have never given allowances, and chores consisted of them doing whatever we ask, whenever we ask. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes there is a fair amount of whining, complaining and nagging that goes on before any chores are completed.

Recently, I have started thinking that they are old enough to really help me out now, and I need to take advantage of this. I also think they need to have a way to earn some of their own money so that they can practice managing it. So, for the last four weeks we have done a chore chart and I AM LOVING IT.

I also love all the graffiti they write all over it because they love using the vis-a-vis marker on laminated paper. Hailey wrote that Kaitlin is her BFF and tried to change the diligence award to $1, while Symantha just wrote "Luv u" at the top.

Here is what I love about this plan:

1. I created it by thinking of what would help me on particular days, for example Tuesday is my biggest laundry day so I have them folding and hanging all their clothes that day.
2. They are responsible to mark things off and get them done by 7pm, for the most part I don't have to worry about it or nag or ask. They accept whatever jobs are listed that day and don't complain about them.
3. The blue areas are just things that are fun or to remind me to practice with them. 
4. Having clothes set out each night is SO helpful for us in the mornings. My girls are getting pickier about what they wear, so having them choose and me approve each night is a great routine. 
5. We still are not doing allowances, but instead they have the opportunity to earn a diligence award. That means if chores are done by 7pm without any complaining, nagging or arguing, then they will earn 50 cents. I got this idea from one of my parenting books and I love that the chores are not a choice, but how they get them done is what earns them the award - being diligent. It's not a lot of money we are giving them, but compared to the nothing they were getting, they think it is awesome. 
6. They are getting the chance to manage their money. They tithe at church, save some and think about what they might save up for. 
7. There is no more arguing and begging to help me make breakfast and dinner. They love helping me cook, and now I have a schedule of when each one is my helper, and I plan the meal accordingly. The other days, I am left alone:)

So far, so good with this plan. I just adjusted the chores again, to mix it up a little and to add a few things that once again, will help me! 

Some funny stories about their money management...  now that they have a little to manage. Hailey gave her friend Ethan at church $5, which she told me after we already had left. His mother gave it back to me when I saw her at school the next day, and we had to have a little talk about giving all of our money away to our friends!

Then, Symantha was thinking she would take some of her money to the book fair at school. She came home today with a present for me:

She bought me this cookbook for $11! Luckily, it was the buy-one-get-one deal, so she got herself a book too. She had written in it and everything. It's hard to see, but on the left side it says, "To the best mom ever." How can I complain about that! Even though she spent every last dime of what she had saved up for the past few weeks. Like I said, I guess we get to learn about money management through this process.