8.18.2006

The jobs you love to hate.......

Warning: If you aren't a Lenhart this post won't make much sense to you. But I figured that since only a few people who aren't (or weren't) Lenharts actually read this, I would go ahead anyway!

Today is a momentous day in the VeStrand household-----our very own VeStrand Job Chart was born! Now, just a little background for those of you non-Lenharts: when I was in my early teens, mom and dad came to the ridiculous conclusion that their amazing offspring needed more to do. So, one night while we were sleeping innocently upstairs, mom and dad took a piece of yellow legal pad paper (what else??) and the Lenhart Job Chart was born. Oh the moaning and groaning that ensued! How dare they torture us this way? How could we possibly accomplish ALL that work and still fit in playing "Johnny and Colony", doing our Children's Bible Hour bible studies, and listening to Gaither records? Not to mention, watching grass grow on the always-bustling Firetower Road??? We would surely die! Alas, mom and dad stuck to their guns (no big surprise there), and somehow we all survived vacuuming, dusting, and bathroom cleaning. And, with the exception of one of us, who shall remain nameless, we continue to vacuum, dust, and clean bathrooms to this day.

Now life has come full circle, and Jeff and I have the same delusions that my parents once had: our amazing offspring need more to do. So today we had a sit-down, and the VeStrand Job Chart was born. Ours includes some different tasks, like retrieving the recycle bins and "superbrooming" the kitchen each night, and ours will be printed with the help of our computer, but the intent is the same.

Tonight around the dinner table, we broke it to the kids: they enjoy the privileges of living in our lovely home so now it's time to share some of the responsibilities. Oh the moaning and groaning that ensued! However, after they realized their chances of survival were high, and after telling Payton that his "pay" was three hots (meals), a cot (bed), and a pot (toilet), they actually seemed excited to start. I'm realistic enough to realize those feelings won't last past Monday at lunch, but hey, life's rough!

We can only hope that, in the end, we will have given our children a sense of responsibility, some knowledge on how a house really runs, and, of course, the necessary fodder for countless family jokes and hours of laughter in the years to come!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does the job of vacuuming the basement for that week, also give the right to sit in the front seat of the car?

Beckyb said...

Ok - so we're not Lenhart's, BUT we do the same thing at our house - and yes, all for room and board!! Someone broke the news to our boys that some kids get PAID for such things - I was hoping they wouldn't find that out!! Oh well - we aren't like all the other parents, right?!!?!?

Anonymous said...

Jen, you forgot to bribe them with going to the pool if they get done by 10.
I love your interpretation of our past life.

Anonymous said...

Inquiring minds were expecting to read/see the actual chart....Amy