Is it too much to ask?

Question

I have a 16 month old and babysit my 5 month old nephew. I give my sister a $100 a month discount compared to daycare. Her other two kids are now out of school for the summer ( a girl 12 and a boy 8) and they are staying with me all day, too. The girl does help me out with the babies, but her 8 year old brother has ADHD and basically just drives me nuts with hyperactivity all day long. I cook a full breakfast for everyone in the morning and a full lunch as my sister provides the groceries on a weekly basis. There is more cleaning up to do and a lot more chaos when they are added to the mix. Is We live out in the country and it is at least 100 degrees everyday, so they are stuck inside watching TV. I feel bad for them, but that is just the way it is. Is it wrong for me to ask them to do some chores throughout the day to help me out? They do dishes and trash when they get home everyday, so I don't want to me the mean aunt, but they do produce more work for me in the long run. Thoughts?

Answer 1

It is fine to have the kids do chores, Children need to learn to pick up after themselves, its good for them and teaches them responsibility. 12 and 8 is old enough to do chores. If your sister was at her house with the kids they would be doing chores right? make a rewards system, they do chores and you do something fun with them once a week, like take them to the zoo or to the local pool.

Answer 2

NO WAY! I think you should ask them to do some chores and help out around the house. Doing that isnt being mean... whats mean is sitting around not helping while your doing the work...

P.S. this isnt coming from an adult (im 13)

tehe

Answer 3

I think you're right on your part, this teaches them to be more responsible and by the side helps you through a hectic schedule. So its not wrong at all :)

Answer 4

yes ask them to help you you are watching them fo rfree and i dont see any harm in them pick up

Answer 5

By all means they should help! Im a strong believer in having kids help pick up the mess that they make. It helps teach them responsibility and prepares them for the world outside of Mommy... Make a schedule for them and involve them in the making of it. Kids like and need schedules. Try and make it fun for them... Use a big poster board with a chart and let them mark off the finished chores with cute stickers... Play fun music that they like... Be creative. Make it seem less like a chore but be consistent! Best of luck to you!!

Answer 6

Coming from a kid, no it isn't too much to ask, BUT only if you portray it properly. If you just kind of tell them what to do and take it for granted, yes you will be the mean aunt. If you turn it into something that can make them feel good about what they did, you'll be suprised how productive we can be. Use your imagination, come up with some sort of reward system, turn it into a game, and ALWAYS remember to thank them and tell them what a great job they did. I'm not saying you should act like they're saints for helping out a bit, I'm just saying you should spare yourself a head ache and make sure they enjoy it too.

Answer 7

children need boundaries, it won't hurt to ask for help and then you will find more time to interact with them and be a geat auntie. they won't thank you for it but will respect you,in the long term, 'all hands to the deck' ask for more pay also during holidays?!

Answer 8

no its not too much to ask. they are old enough and it teaches them responsibility i think you should get them a pool or something so they could be outside and not drive you crazy in the house all day everyday