Alan & Brenda Leonard

1/24/03 00:16:

> I had started to require one to load the dishwasher and one to empty. I did
> this for maybe a few weeks before I came to this unschooling board. Then I
> didn't require it of them, and told them why. So now, they leave dishes all
> over and don't put them in the diswasher again.
>
> What to do?

Wow, what a lot of dishes. Could somebody help me load this dishwasher?

or

I'll be there to help you in a few minutes, honey. I can't stand it when
the kitchen gets so messy. Do you want to help me load the dishwasher? I
can talk while we work.

or

I'm unloading the dishwasher, Tim. Want to grab the silverware and race me?
(When my son was 4, I used to take the sharp knives out of the silverware
and give the container to him, and we'd race to see if he could unload the
flatware before I got all the rest of the dishes out. Warning: this contest
may cause giggle fits.)

or

Mom thinks: (Hmmm. Dishes. Yuck. Maybe I'll just put this off for a few
hours....) =====> my personal favorite!

brenda