Cheap Summer Labor

At first, I was dreading the summer break. The boys are in this phase of constantly picking at each other. It gets on my nerves. Quickly. I listen to other people talk about how well their kids get along and how they never fight. It makes me want to put a sharp stick in my eye.

I think I finally found a solution though. Or at least Erin told me about a solution. Probably three years ago, she turned me onto a scheduling "program" that's designed for homeschool families. Following the scheduling program, I divide the boys' days into 30 minute blocks. I have very smartly left "fight with your brother" and "engage in behavior likely to drive your mother insane" off of the schedule. Still patting myself on the back over that one.

But what I did schedule time for is chores. And mysteriously, the boys love it. Well, Declan does anyway. Finn? Not so much. The boys have historically been responsible for their rooms, getting themselves ready in the morning, and doing other small tasks like setting and clearing the table. But now, the chores are getting serious. Laundry. Dusting. Swiffering the floor. Straightening the basement. My attempts to capitalize on the cheap labor that summer brings knows no bounds.

They're going to be so sick of chores by the end of the summer, they'll be beating down the doors of the school to get inside. There's a method to my madness.