Chores & Financial Principles

Isaac and I have always liked the idea of the kids doing chores, but to be honest aside from helping sort laundry, fold once in while, make beds, and help with vacuuming; I was not very consistent. I always felt bad making Kelsey do so much because she was the oldest, especially when no one else could do a whole lot. I recently had a huge change of heart. As of two weeks ago we finally have a routine of sorts.

We had a family meeting were daddy and mommy told the kids that in order to save money we were going stop having a house cleaner come once a week. She was great but my kids and I became to dependant on her coming. So now we do our chores every morning before we do school right after breakfast and devotions. We work to worship music and it is awesome. I had a couple days when I was tired and just having an off morning. it became clear to me quickly how much my family thrives on schedule and how I need to stick to it.

So Kelsey learned...

how to clean toilets, Austin learned how to mop and use window cleaner, Megan dusts and then we switch up the chores the next week. I bought a dry erase board that I put the daily chore schedule on and the kids wipe off the duties as they accomplish them.
We are giving them some incentive too! Isaac got very motivated to start teaching financial principles to all the kids more in depth. So we have ordered some very awesome Piggy banks from www.onestepahead.com. They have dividers for Saving, Spending, Donation, and Investing. In the past Isaac and the kids have made little bird houses that look like a church, a bank, and a house. Those were also very cute! We have always taught our kids about tithing and what God's word says about giving. But now we are even more prepared.

The kids are excited! the know what chores they need to do because they are part of a family and a family works together to get a job done. We all help each other and everything gets done faster and there is more time for fun. Their incentive is a list of extra duties they can do for pay. We have a garden we all eat from, and because we all eat from it we all work it together. however, weeds outside the garden are fair game for a penny a piece. Today Kelsey and Austin pulled together about 120 weeds (a couple of them were actually worth a nickel which was real exciting). We pay them in change so we can help them divide up their money into the different categories and then they deliver their tithes themselves on Sunday morning.

Other "Extra" duties include things like cleaning the hall way closet, cleaning the shoes off in the mud room, raking leaves and taking them to the burn pile, cleaning the garage, and helping clean the BBQ. What is great about these duties and having them earn $ for things they want. They really think hard before they spend anything. They worked hard for that money so it means something to them. I have been so proud of how Kelsey is so conscience about what she spends her money on. This is great practice for later in life and having that "eternal" perspective on material things. The kids get that things don't last forever and that they don't "need" to have stuff!

I hope by letting the kids earn , give, save, and spend money that they will have a godly perspective on money later in life. Ultimately, My husband and I are there biggest examples and influences in this area and taking this responsibility seriously even when they are so young will impact their lives forever and for the Kingdom of God! Isn't that exciting!

Life is getting easier and the kids are actually really excited about their chores... for now. I feel more productive and to be honest having the kids help has helped my perspective change from a bit of resentment about feeling like I was always doing everything. To now I feel like we are all working together and that makes me feel appreciated and loved by my kids and husband.