What's the first real job that you've taught your teenager to do around the house?

**ajrsmom** · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 08:52 PM

You have a teenager living in your house....lucky you. ROFL!! Once you get past the moaning and groaning of him/her, what's the first job that you've taught them to do?

Do they have a list of jobs to do? What are they?

My son has been put in charge of keeping the kitchen clean. That includes loading and unloading the dishwasher and washing & drying any baking sheets..etc, wiping off the counters and the sink and appliances and keeping the frig semi straightened out.

He's also taken it upon himself to learn how to wash, dry and fold clothes! YAY!! I still wash the clothes (not ready to chance it yet. lol!) but he will dry the clothes and towels and fold them..all except for undies and socks.

Cooked · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2011, 08:18 PM

Jobs? Teenagers? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! You crack me up!

Seriously, I am on my 3rd one and I still can't seem to make anything work. Maybe I am just plain tired out. She will empty the dishwasher, but not the cutlery. She will do the wash, but only hers. She will bring the dirty dishes, but only hers. She walks over things on the floor, and got upset with me for cleaning up the stairs cause now she can't find anything!!!!!
5 more years is my mantra.

**ajrsmom** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooked

Jobs? Teenagers? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! You crack me up!

Seriously, I am on my 3rd one and I still can't seem to make anything work. Maybe I am just plain tired out. She will empty the dishwasher, but not the cutlery. She will do the wash, but only hers. She will bring the dirty dishes, but only hers. She walks over things on the floor, and got upset with me for cleaning up the stairs cause now she can't find anything!!!!!
5 more years is my mantra.

OMG, both of my kids walk over things instead of picking them up...and then they blame each other for dropping it there.

I always tell him that he shouldn't be so satisfied doing a 1/2 job of everything he does. That drives me crazy!!!

ellenmelon · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 06:18 AM

first things I taught them were survival skills:

1. how to change a tire on the car
2. how to check the oil on a car
3. how to floss their teeth (actually just reminding them to do so)
4. how to iron a shirt, skirt, pants, or dress
5. how to make spaghetti sauce
6. how to do a roast meat anything
7. how to clean a bathroom
8. how to use the internet to solve problems
9. how to dial 911 (and what to expect when they do and for what reasons to call)
10. how to stay safe around wild animals

the housework they had to do when they crashed the car and they were our slaves for two years, including mowing, weeding, scrubbing, etcetera

boy we really lucked out on that one!

**Bilby** · #5 (**permalink**) 07-14-2011, 10:52 PM

Wow that's going back a bit, they've both been doing things from when they were 5 on, it started with bed making before going to school!
To clean the toilet
To clean the shower
To wash/hang the dishes (although that's a work in progress)
Mow the lawn
Vacuum/swiffer
Make a simple dinner
Feed the pets
As above, car maintenance
Clutch starting a car
Jump starting a car
Wood work (making his own speaker boxes)
Work for your $ don't expect handouts
Probably more just can't think of them right now.

RobertaD · #6 (**permalink**) 07-15-2011, 04:39 AM

My kids started out vacuuming and folding laundry then moved on to cleaning the toilet and sink. Last summer dd1 learned to mow the grass as I had hand surgery and couldn't (she didn't like it so didn't do a great job so I'm doing it again this year) and she took over washing the dishes when the dishwasher died. They make their own beds, bring dirty laundry to the kitchen when I'm washing.

For money they clean the car windows, label my Avon brochures and scoop poop (money doesn't really work on that one).

DD1 does know how to make several dishes so I know the kids would eat if there were no leftovers and I was gone for a day.

Roberta

cau · #7 (**permalink**) 07-15-2011, 06:14 PM

Dgd is going on 14, this summer she is in charge of lawn care. She mows and trims the whole yard. I pay $10. For a job well done, if she is sloppy she redoes it until dh or I am satisfied . For extra $$ she can do major jobs, minor jobs she does cause she lives here.