I’m not saying the kids adhere to them, but they’ve hung on the fridge for nearly a year. If anything, the list seems to amuse our grown-up guests.
WE do not:
- Run in the house
Leave doors open (one word: flies. We hate them)
Make messes that we don’t clean up
Make loud, disruptive and inappropriate noise (yes, you know what this is)
Barge into each other’s rooms
Leave toys, books, backpacks or shoes laying around*
Eat ANYWHERE other than the dining room, kitchen or sun porch table (Hansel and Gretel got away with crumbs. You don’t.)
*Parents reserve the right to apprehend any items found outside of your room and give them away to children who won’t leave them laying around
YOU are personally responsible for:
- Getting yourself up and out the door on time
Keeping yourself clean (No stinky clothes, bodies or hair)
Making your own lunch (fasting doesn’t count)
Managing your own laundry: Wash it, dry it, put it away
Cleaning up your bathroom
Doing your own dishes (the sink is not your personal dumping ground)
We, as your parents, are not your maids or slaves. We are, instead, responsible for giving you the tools to be personally accountable and to succeed. We believe in you.
Now get to work.
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Hey.. I’d love to see a pic of that list. Also could you post it as a download? I need one for my fridge.
Good idea. Give me a few hours and it’ll be there.
Mind if I pirate this for my fridge?
Found you via indie bloggers . . . good stuff you got here!
I must say, though, that some days lunch for the kids is about all I can pull off; and my mid-day meal does therefore consist of “fasting” occasionally. Then again, perhaps this is not entirely bad? We do leave for the beach in a week.
love your blog!
Oh my, how do I love thee, and why is this not on my fridge! Do you ever have days though when you want to make this list of rules into t-shirts for them to wear? When they are especially naughty they can take turns reading the list to each other off of their fabulous new shirts. Hmmmmm! That might slow ‘em down a little. Think I could get all that on a onesie say size 12-18 mos?
Hi Izzy
I love, love, love the House Rules list. It is pretty hysterical to read and think about how often all of those rules get broken each day in my house. I am going to copy it and save it for when my boys can read (they are 18 months and 3.5 years)! Keep us posted on how successful the list is and of course the great stories of when the rules get broken. You are an amazingly talented writer. Keep up the good work.
Sometimes (in moments of despair and utter desperation), I say to the boys, “Maybe you should go take a look at the rules on the fridge.” This often (okay, always) gets an eye roll. Then I play the ace, “You signed your legal name! Does that mean nothing in this house.”
If anything, that even gives me a chuckle. Who do I think I am? A customs official?
Izzy Rose,
You are a natural. I read parenting book after parenting book and the ones I like the best say to always add humor.
[...] that, I kissed him on the lips and got out a pen and paper and together we created the House Rules. It was very [...]
I really like those! Some don’t apply here, but man those are nice!