We give all our children chores so that they know how to be more responsible in life.
It just aggravates me though when they fuss about doing their chores.
The children are also always fighting about who is making messes in the house and who should be cleaning what. We made it clear who has to cover which chores around the house, yet they still manage to fight about everything. Our son the other day was complaining about having to change the air filter to the HVAC system because it was ‘scary’ in the basement. I asked him if he was afraid of a few spiders and dust, then how was he ever going to make it when he was living on his own. I asked if he was going to just not change the air filters and get regular HVAC maintenance. I had to push and tell him if he failed to do those things, his air quality at home would be terrible and he might develop breathing complications and be frequenting the hospital more often. Not to mention, I explained that his HVAC system would inevitably fail and I asked if that’s what he wanted. Of course he said he knew he needed a working HVAC system so he was able to catch my point. He didn’t give me any issues about changing the air filters after that, but he still fights with his brothers and sisters about cleaning up other things around the house. They also fight over the temperature control settings all the time. I guess I will have to think of a solution to that issue, like investing in a zoned HVAC system.