How would you divide the chores?

[AlmiraGulch]

I've posted before that, for various and sundry reasons, my ex-husband lives in my house right now. He gives me $50 per week in rent, but he also has to do all of the house work. I mean all of it. I can't remember the last time I folded laundry...

 

Anyway, it's starting to get to me because a) I do it better than he does and it irritates me that i have to make him re-do things, and b) my kids really don't do anything anymore, either. That, to me, is unacceptable.

 

So, how would you divide the work between them? The 6 year old is still responsible for feeding the cats, putting away her laundry and clearing the table. The 13 year old has to do the cat litter, carry in and put away groceries, and occasionally unload or load the dishwasher, but her dad does that most of the time now, too. They both used to do laundry, too, but now he does that as part of his "rent."

 

What do you think is appropriate? And should I feel at all bad about asking him to re-clean things that I don't think he did properly, since it's not like he's doing me a favor or anything....

 

Thoughts?

[Desert Rat]

You're in a sticky situation and I applaud you for trying to make it work.

So here's my 2 pennies.

I think the kids should resume the chores you had originally assigned them.

Xdh should do the heavy cleaning-dusting, vaccuuming, bathrooms, floors, in addition to outside chores - raking leaves, shoveling, mowing, trimming, etc.

It stinks that he doesn't do these chores to your satisfaction and you'd have to ask him again, but I would. I would also consider seeing if there are other ways to help him earn his rent like housing repairs, etc.

It would drive me crazy to have someone else cleaning my house only because I like it done my way. If you're like me it drives you crazy too.

Good luck and I hope it works out for all of you.

[AlmiraGulch]

You're in a sticky situation and I applaud you for trying to make it work.

So here's my 2 pennies.

I think the kids should resume the chores you had originally assigned them.

Xdh should do the heavy cleaning-dusting, vaccuuming, bathrooms, floors, in addition to outside chores - raking leaves, shoveling, mowing, trimming, etc.

It stinks that he doesn't do these chores to your satisfaction and you'd have to ask him again, but I would. I would also consider seeing if there are other ways to help him earn his rent like housing repairs, etc.

It would drive me crazy to have someone else cleaning my house only because I like it done my way. If you're like me it drives you crazy too.

Good luck and I hope it works out for all of you.

I appreciate the recommendation. I do have some "extra" things I want done, like my garage organized, closets cleaned, etc., that he can and should do. I do think the girls need to not only be in the habit of contributing to the household and learning responsibility by completing chores more regularly, so they do need to do more. So....thanks again!