I’m taking a break from kitchen clean up and dishwasher duties. Teens said they would take over but it’s always ‘later’.

[Anonymous]

There are dirty dishes piled in and next to the sink, and a dishwasher full of dishes to be emptied. I couldn’t help but tidy a little.

What should my next move be?

[Anonymous]

By the time they go to bed, it needs to be done. If they don’t, if you get up earlier than they do, let them know you will wake them up first thing in the morning to clean up.

Or, tell them that you want them to do it now, you don’t enjoy seeing the mess, and you want to know that it’s done.

Do not do it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Turn off internet access?
No taking of any more food allowed until kitchen is cleaned. By teens, not you.

Your caving and tidying "a little" just reinforced for your teens that if they wait, you will do it. You are your own worst enemy. Be stronger.

[Anonymous]

Move the dishes to their beds

[Anonymous]

Yeah, my kids were alternating taking care of the dishwasher emptying but they sleep later than me and always want to do it"later" so it's annoying to have dirty dishes pile up with no place to go.

I may switch them to different chores but I'm not sure which ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By the time they go to bed, it needs to be done. If they don’t, if you get up earlier than they do, let them know you will wake them up first thing in the morning to clean up.

Or, tell them that you want them to do it now, you don’t enjoy seeing the mess, and you want to know that it’s done.

Do not do it yourself.

I’m not going to get into a yelling match over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, my kids were alternating taking care of the dishwasher emptying but they sleep later than me and always want to do it"later" so it's annoying to have dirty dishes pile up with no place to go.

I may switch them to different chores but I'm not sure which ones.

Person who unloads has to load all the dishes that are waiting to go in- this will get them to unload sooner. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move the dishes to their beds

I’m considering it. By tomorrow evening, we will be out of clean silverware and the ‘good’ glasses (they like our extra tall ones) and dc left his smoothie blender dirty which he’ll need tomorrow…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Turn off internet access?
No taking of any more food allowed until kitchen is cleaned. By teens, not you.

Your caving and tidying "a little" just reinforced for your teens that if they wait, you will do it. You are your own worst enemy. Be stronger.

I doubt they noticed I tidied!

[Anonymous]

When I want my teens to start doing chores I make them do it with me first. They never say no or 'delay' when I ask them to work alongside me. Once things become more second nature for them it is easier to pin them down on doing it by themselves. Sometimes it it just an executive function issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, my kids were alternating taking care of the dishwasher emptying but they sleep later than me and always want to do it"later" so it's annoying to have dirty dishes pile up with no place to go.

I may switch them to different chores but I'm not sure which ones.

Person who unloads has to load all the dishes that are waiting to go in- this will get them to unload sooner. .

This used to work but now teenage sleep needs win out and then as the chore gets bigger they avoid it more and more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I want my teens to start doing chores I make them do it with me first. They never say no or 'delay' when I ask them to work alongside me. Once things become more second nature for them it is easier to pin them down on doing it by themselves. Sometimes it it just an executive function issue.

Op here. I’ve done this already. They’re older teens. They know how to unload the dishwasher and load it, and we’ve done it ‘together’ a number of times before. This is total laziness. I’m not backing down and going to bed. One teen is out still, and the other is still shuffling around. I guess I’ll wake up to a dirty kitchen. I’m going to keep the paper plates in my room so they can’t use them

[Anonymous]

Lazy family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lazy family.

Too true. Too true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lazy family.

Got your hit?