What is it with kids and chores? They either don't get them (I forgot, Mom!) or they do such a lousy job that it's hardly worth the effort to get them to do it.

I give you Exhibit A:



This is what I found after Matt supposedly "swept" the front entryway. This was exactly 24 hours later, so unless we have some very messy people in this house, he did his usual half-assed job.

Exhibit B is what I found on the kitchen floor. No matter how many times I tell him, you have to MOVE the furniture and stuff to sweep around it and actually sweep UNDER stuff.


And he's got this great "disappearing chore" routine. Let's say I ask him to mow the lawn, or empty the catbox, or vacuum the floors today. If I don't make sure he gets it done today, the chore apparently vanished from his mind without a trace. It doesn't matter if the lawn grows up to his knees, or the catbox is spilling out onto the floor, it never seems to enter his mind that he is supposed to do something about it any time after today. It's like there's a 24 hour statute of limitations on his chores. Makes his Mama crazy!

And Blake is just as bad. Today it was his turn to do the catbox. Oh he cleaned it alright. He scooped everything right into the wastebasket. And then just left it there - ew! Gotta love those shortcuts.

Last month when Matt was talking about moving out into his own apartment, I had a vision of what his apartment would look like. I think you'd have to go in there with a shovel and a rat trap. I mean, are you supposed to still be telling a 20 year old when to clean their room? It's pretty scary in there, so I try not to go in there more often that necessary, but once in a while, you have to just hold your nose and make a dash for it. I can't imagine if he had the responsibility for the whole house. Between his video games, his iTunes, and his guitar magazines, I think housecleaning is going to come really far down the line. Scary.....




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