A Change Will Do You Good

There is probably another factor that has not helped with Maggie's adjustment to our new life in Dublin.

We took this as an opportunity to provide her with more opportunities to take care of her room.

Yes, we were those horrible parents that never really gave our kids chores. We didn't even make them regularly clean their own rooms or pick up their own stuff.

We always had the best of intentions. Particularly with Maggie. We'd attempt to instill a routine -- clean up your room on Saturday mornings--then we'd get busy and let it go until Sunday, then Sunday night. Eventually would forget or just let it go.

Then it seemed that Maggie's homework just took up all of her time. And then I thought (literally I thought this) why add more work to her already over-worked life? In her spare time I'd rather see her playing some sport or hanging out with friends. Or reading.

I'd love to hear from some Annunciation parents about middle school homework. I do think that Maggie has a tendency to succumb to Parkinson's Law, so I would see her time spent on homework ever-increasing. She'd often start at 2:45 or 3 p.m. after school, work until dinner and maybe even do more homework after dinner. It is really difficult to tell if it is her or if it is the workload.

Ugh.

Just a different rat in a different cage spinning on a different wheel.

So once here, we found that each room had its own separate bathroom. What an opportunity to base an argument clearly and cleanly on fairness: why should anyone else have to clean YOUR bathroom?

So here we are, Saturday morning. Nothing good happens until chores are done: clean your room, clean your bathroom, vacuum, put away laundry and do any homework you might have. 

It is easier for Johnny as he is younger and a bit more flexible in terms of changing routines. He's also a bit neater, so his room is really never messy. Maggie's had a tougher time adapting (its only the second week). Today I asked her to vacuum her room and she responded "why?"

The bathroom floors have carpet (yuck). Can you imagine not wanting to vacuum?

So that might be another aspect of her difficult adjustment: more responsibility.

On the positive end, the house is small and we don't have much stuff. It's amazing how you don't lose socks in the dryer when you only have 10 pairs, total!

Off to Dublin for the afternoon. I will let you know if:
1. Nandos is just the UK version of Chipotle,
2. Nils of One Direction is spotted there scarfing chicken,
3. How a seasalt sundae from Murphys tastes
4. How busy Grafton is on a Sunday in January!

Future posts to come: our plans for Croke Park!