After Dinner Chores (sounds like a mint)

Two days ago, I stated my grief about the state of our kitchen and told my son H. that we needed to begin doing our after-dinner chores again. Somehow we got out of the habit. So, on his own, he got out some index cards and drew the jobs and numbered them. So, we have clearing the table, rinsing the dishes (the favorite), sweeping, and washing the table and chairs. Here is our routine...whoever finishes their dinner first gets to pick a card and that is the job they get to do that night.



So, last night, we used the cards. I. was first and selected rinsing the dishes. I was second, but let H. pick first. He picked clearing the table. But, in order for I. to be able to do her job, the dishwasher needed unloaded, so as I was printing out the newly arrived 4th Sunday subjects for the Sunday lessons in Relief Society, H. decided to unload the dishes. He and I. put EVERYTHING in their place. It was so cool. Then H. announced to I. that she could do her job, so I finished up a blog reply and hurried over to "help".

I am so grateful to H. and I. for helping last night. They really did help keep our kitchen clean.

I. decided that she too wants to make some cards, so she is going to help me with the Saturday chores. Whoever wakes first gets to pick their job.

At the table.

Luckily our computer is in the kitchen. It has been 45 minutes, so dinner is officially over. My children, however have yet to finish their food.

So you ask me, "Why do you make them eat all their food?"
I answer, "All of their food? I would just like for them to eat enough of their food. I make things they think taste good, but they are so darn slow at eating that their brains think they're full even though they haven't eaten enough t o really be full. Bedtime is in thirty minutes. Exactly after reading their books (45 minutes from now) they say, and it never fails, that they are 'hungry to the floor'". They won't fall asleep until they've eaten something. So, we drudgingly come back out to the kitchen and eat something. It makes me mad that they just nibble nibble nibble and then they're hungry again.

Now, I have absolutely no problem with a bedtime snack, in fact, right after scriptures and prayer it is on the menu to have some yogurt and toast. If I take that away, they really don't fall asleep.

So, if you have a better solution for me, then by all means comment some suggestions.