hi Sue,
i am a firm believer in kids helping out at home. However it is very easy to everything yourself rather than nag, nag, nag.... . In my house at the moment ... ( bear in mind this doesn't work every week esp now with hsc in progress), my chn are 17 almost 18, and 14 and a half: we have a roster for the dishwasher , clean up the kitchen after dinner on weekdays. They nominate which day they want. They cook a meal each ( this works outside hsc). They have to clean their bathroom , which I always have to nag about . One puts bins out , the other brings them in. I don't clean their rooms , except to vaccuum if I can find the floor. My son , 17 yr old does his own washing .He irons for everyone for cash.My daughter sometimes does her own washing if I ask her to.
I am kinda proud that my son ( whose father comes from one of those families where women do all the domestic stuff) can leave home someday and survive.
I know this all sounds good and I am the first to admit it doesn't work all the time and not much is completely voluntary. I am a full time working mum , and Ican't do it all!
I think the trick is to start young!
Annie