Our new routines.

Okay, several weeks ago we started "morning routines". Everyone has to get up, make their bed, get dressed, brush their teeth and hair, and put their stuff away and be in the kitchen by 7:30 a.m. They have done very well except for the occasional kid trying to get away with doing part of their morning routine. So, last week, we put Grace in charge of morning routines. She is to check everyone's room and appearance before they are free to go downstairs. Grace was picked because out of all four kids she is the only one that consistently gets it done the first time.

Last week we started an organized chore routine instead of Mom and Megan doing it all. Megan and I each have a helper or two that follows us around and helps with the "chore of the day." These are the "chores of the day": Monday: change sheets on the beds
wash bathroom rugs
do all laundry

Tuesday: clean out both refrigerators (yes, we need two)
clean the kitchen trash can
clean the microwave
disinfect kitchen counters and scrub kitchen sink
empty all trash cans and put trash and recycling
in the alley for pick-up Wed morning
Laundry

Wednesday: bring trash can and recycling bin back to
garage after pick-up
clean all three bathrooms
Laundry

Thursday: dust furniture
clean mirrors and windows
Laundry

Friday: vacuum carpets
sweep and mop tile floors
Laundry

Saturday: yardwork (when there isn't snow)
straighten and sweep the garage
clean out the van and vacuum if needed

We also have a kitchen clean-up routine. I am the main cook and all four kids take turns each meal helping me prepare dinner and set the table. Megan is the clean-up supervisor and the other three kids take turns helping her clean the kitchen. Megan likes this because she has had
this chore all by herself for 8 years and she knows that by teaching the younger kids she is working herself out of a job and she is happy about that.

Bedtime routines have always been a headache because Lawson and Chloe won't clean up and we wind up threatning all kinds of things before they finally get it done. So, we put the main troublemaker in charge of bedtime routines and it has been a dream! Starting at 7:00 pm Lawson is to see to it that Grace, Chloe, and himself take showers, brush teeth, put on pajamas, clean rooms and the bathroom, and choose one book each. When all this is done, and Lawson has inspected, they head downstairs to read with Mom and Dad and give goodnight kisses and hugs. Then they are in bed at 8:00 pm.

Chloe was upset that she didn't get to be the supervisor of something so we put her in charge of reminding people of their tablemanner infractions at mealtime. She is the worst with table manners so this has helped her, too because she has to set the example.

I know this sounds like too much work but believe it or not it has made life so much easier for Billy and me and the kids love having the chores and the important "titles". So far it is working wonderfully!

If you have any other ideas for us I'd love to hear them.