The home belongs, at least in part, to each member of the family. Since this is true, every member has a certain amount of responsibility toward caring for the home and making sure it is a comfortable and comforting refuge for the entire family.
Because each member is an important part of the unit, each one should be taught that he or she is a needed, valued, contributor to the family’s well-being. By encouraging every person in the household to contribute to its upkeep, our spouses and children learn that the family is not complete without them.
When one person’s chores don’t get done, everyone suffers. For example, if nobody washes the dishes, dinner doesn’t get served on time. If someone forgets it’s his or her turn to do laundry and the towels don’t get washed, it’s difficult to take a shower.
Even very young children can be taught to cheerfully pitch in. Children as young as three to four years of age can be taught to clean up their own toys. Age and stage appropriate chores should not be seen as some type of punishment. They should be embraced as a way of contributing to the family’s ability to function, thrive and prosper.
The truth is a family that allows most of the work and responsibility to fall on one or two members (usually the parents or older siblings) will eventually find itself at odds. The responsible individuals will begin to feel resentful and unappreciated over time. They will become overwhelmed with caring for the entire family and the home, because they are left with little time to care for themselves.
It is important to keep this from happening. The best way to prevent it is by encouraging everyone to contribute in his or her own way. When everybody works together as a team, the atmosphere in the home is healthier and happier.