- February 11, 2011
- 18 Comments
- Parenting/Family
Joy Unexpected: The Chore Chart
Chores. The biggest not-fun word of all.
For years I have wanted to make the uber-awesome-crafty-yet-practical-and-oh-so-creative chore chart for me my children.
The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention. Hitherhencetofore… no chore chart.
So. The week before I headed to Blissdom… I. Had. HAD. It. Like I had never had it before.
Despite having an unimaginable task list… It seemed everybody was scheduling posts and being good business women… I broke down and made a stinking chore chart. It was an act of love to me, AND to my children. Really. You’ll see…
Here is the chore chart I drew with a ruler and a purple Sharpie.
Not fancy. Not perfect. But DONE. I used a purple Sharpie because it was the only pen I could find, ya’ll.
And, if I may brag, Olivia was VERY impressed with my line making. She also is quite impressed with my pancake batter stirring and egg beating.
I made copies and wrote each kids’ name at the top. I highlighted week-specific chores (older 2 trade a couple tasks each week) and taped 3 of these puppies to the wall.
No color coding. No magnets nor velcro. No smiley faces. Just DONE. And TAPED to the wall.
Desperate times, simple measures.
And you know stinkin’ what?! The smallest deed is INDEED better than the grandest intention.
The kids thrive in knowing what I expect of them. Of course they knew before, but BECAUSE I YELLED MY EXPECTATIONS AT THEM EVERY MORNING. Now. My expectations can be read, and checked off. Remembered…
When I returned from Blissdom, I found proof that I did right by my kids. Finally.
Her chart reads: Love Everyone, Bathroom with Love, Dishwasher with Love, Shower with Love, Lunch with Love, Love, Love, Love, Love, Love…
1 Corinthians 16:14, FTW! {Do everything in love.}
The other side of her chore chart has a letter… to me…
Her heart is so heavy with love for me she can hardly walk. I love this girl.
I have been gone so much lately, so I made sure to leave some small, daily treasures for the kids while I was away. I left them something to open each day… a note, a Candy Kiss, and a little something else ranging from cheap-o plastic bracelet to bag of popcorn to share… Little money, big love.
And a chore chart. Which seems was the biggest gift of all. While I am utterly surprised, I am not surprised at all… The apples did not fall far from the tree.
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- Gossip: Janice at 5 Minutes for Mom wrote about me to my face. She has my permission to do that again. ANYTIME.
- Oh, and First Lady Michelle Obama and I speak out: our thoughts on kids using social networks on iVillage.
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18 Responses to “Joy Unexpected: The Chore Chart”
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I’ve been meaning to get going with a chore chart, too. You’ve just inspired me to hurry up and get it done already.
And your daughter is SO very adorable. How do you stand it?1
Oh Kim…
It took an hour, and some thinking. SO worth it. Do it, do it!
I LOVE Olivia! How truly wonderful to come home to a note like that!
I have to say, these days have been full of wonderful things with her. I have forgotten that this age… is the golden age. I need to capture these times… and remember them.
I. LOVE. THIS.
Great post!
You-all are sho’ nuf fo’ real — walking the walk and running the race — may God continually bless your sweet family. Thanks for sharing the sweet moments.
Mrs. L… You are always a wonderful voice of encouragement… thank you for blessing me with your words and heart <3
Good job! I LOVE what Olivia wrote about not being able to walk cuz her heart was so heavy with love for you! How awesome is that?!! YES absorb and keep all this wonderfulness. It will anchor you in the teenage years! So precious! Great post!
Your daughter is so sweet, clever, and funny!
Oh, I cannot wait for the day my kids are old enough to do chores! My oldest is almost 4 and tries to make her bed some days.
Until then, I derive a sense of accomplishment and a few You Owe Me’s while I run around the house every morning in a hurried haze:)
Wow…I literally have tears in my eyes. Be sure to keep Olivia’s chart and letter to you. Those are priceless. I just posted some of my son’s schoolwork from this week. It is sooo cute. I love Kindergarten spelling.
http://pagesofprayer.blogspot.com/2011/02/faith-like-child.html
Btw..if my 4th and last baby was a girl…we were going to name her Olivia Renee. But huge surprise…he came out Levi instead. Haha! LOVE the name though!!
You da bomb! Obviously you’re a great mom because it shows in your kids. That is about the sweetest thing I have ever seen. That house is thick with ♥!!
A chore chart brought much happiness to my unorganized son who so desires to do the right thing-just can’t stay focused to get it done. It has helped him soooo much-we have three for him (his idea)-daily/weekly things, a bedtime one and a before school one! He is truly a different kid. However, I did not get a love note for inventing them for him-only Livi is that awesome!
*wipes tear* That was beautiful! I love chore charts.
I think you’ve got an angel or three living in your house with you!
(I must do a chore chart and soon! It’s going on my own personal chore chart!)
This produced the loudest laugh I have ever had at your post. It was funny and delightful, and my heart is lifted up and my eyes are actually brimming with laugh tears. Love you – and I think Olivia is so stinkin’ awesome – she doesn’t fall far from an awesome tree either!
love it.
our saturdays are always full of yelling and fighting because they want to be done and i say “the house is still a mess!!!” but they don’t see it.
this would help so much.
you are so right about yelling my expectations….instead of just writing it down.
in writing = less yelling (hopefully)
you rock.
Congrats on getting the chart done! I love Olivia’s! I guess I better get mine started now