Speaking of a clean house (from inside another thread)

[Luanne]

How does one motivate their 19 year old to help out around the house more? :(

[Sophia]

"If you don't work, you don't eat" worked for John Smith!
Maybe you should try a similar no-nonsense approach.

[Ellie]

"If you don't work, you don't eat" worked for John Smith!
Maybe you should try a similar no-nonsense approach.

That's what I'm thinking.

I don't know how you would "motivate" a 19yo to work more around the house, if by "motivate" you mean "jump right in there and participate in all the household cleaing and whatnot without being told or reminded." OTOH, it would certainly be motivating if he didn't get to eat if he didn't share the responsiblity of cleaning the kitchen, or have clean clothes if he didn't wash them himself, or whatever.

[Unicorn]

Yep, I agree with Ellie and Sophia. "You want to live here- get off your hiney and help out, or get out!"

[Audrey]

Charge her the going rate for maid services. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

[Tammy in Germany]

I have a 20 year old and so feel your pain. I got tired of the upstairs bathroom not being cleaned. So I went in and cleaned it and locked the door and charged 50 euro cents for each use. Didn't take but a day for her to get the hint I was serious. I do the same for bedrooms. But charge more for that service. :)

[Audrey]

Way to go, Tammy! :D

[Mabelen]

I am taking note of your replies! Thank you, veteran ladies :)

[shell in SC]

We take away the cell phone. . .the privelege of using the cell phone has to be earned by doing chores. . .and BTW. . .chores must be done BEFORE dinner.

[Gigi]

In my home once we turned 18 we owed rent and it was more if we didn't clean up. Living at home then became a priviledge so if you didn't shape up you were out of there. As for cleaning very little was expected except the bathroom and any dishes. At 18 you were expected to be working full time or working parttime and attending school so you didn't have time to make a mess.

I wanted to add by the time we were 16 we paid for all of our personal expenses including clothes, entertainment, eating out, school activities; and we all had a parttime jobs. There weren't cell phones & ipods but I can't imagine my mom ever paying for that after we turned 16.

However, by the time most of us were 18 we were out of the house.;)

[susie in tx]

I have a 20 year old and so feel your pain. I got tired of the upstairs bathroom not being cleaned. So I went in and cleaned it and locked the door and charged 50 euro cents for each use. Didn't take but a day for her to get the hint I was serious. I do the same for bedrooms. But charge more for that service. :)

Your fees are high. LOL

:)

I love it though.