Tom Sawyer's chores

Well, we rolled out the new chores system today. It worked! We banged that easy-button all day long - what a hit! They begged to finish all the clips - had them done before lunch - plus some extra chores. No one said "but that's not my chore" when I asked for toy-pickup or table-clearing. They just did it, and sweetly asked, "can I hit the easy-button?" Yes!!

There were two best parts. Isaac as Tom Sawyer and Pete's shirt drawer.

First, Tom. I came downstairs to check on Ike's progress as "kitchen cabinet wiper" - we'd made his very own spray bottle labeled largely as "Isaac's own Vinegar Wash" and he started with vigorous vim. But this is what I discovered:
Tom Sawyer even got a snack out of the trade, didn't he? Go, Isaac - you are brilliant!! See the distinct "Isaac" on the sprayer label there?!? She's a cheerful worker. At bedtime, Isaac and Ruby explained to Daddy that they'd "traded" jobs "because we love each other".

Yes, I made him finish her job of "mud room shoe sorter"

Need to get a photo of those sorted shoes and of Pete's new shirt drawer - we decided that fewer shirts would help - he jumped on that and now we have 2 piles: short and long (sleeved). Easy.

I say: "Look at all that space, nice!"
He says: "I should put toys in there!" giggle, giggle.

Elisa, remember this sweet baby gift? It has graduated to chore center! Each child has a pocket for finished clips. Regular job clips (we're talking wooden clothespins here) stay in the pocket for Mommy to clip to their ribbon. Rotating jobs are in the top pockets to rotate in (monthly, you know, like clean the bathrooms monthly!) Finish a job, unclip it from your ribbon and drop it in your pocket - then hit that easy-button! And we'll remember to feed that dog!