Motivating teens to help with the "big chores" It can be done!

I'm busy. I always have a long list of chores and projects to get done and very rarely am I lounging around the house. I hate days that I sleep in. They don't happen very often but it happens. It makes me feel like I have wasted day light hours. 

Getting my many teens motivated to help with all the chores is a feet all it's own. My teens think the complete opposite as me. They think sleeping hours are during the day and night hours are for being loud and having reality show marathons. Night time is the time to eat all the food in the house while day time is to waste all the meals that have been prepared by claiming they aren't hungry because they are "too tired to eat." Remember, this doesn't mean your groceries will be cheaper, just that if they are too tired to eat now, they will be ravenous wolves later and eat everything. But instead of eating the leftovers, they want "new" and "better" food". 

This also means trying to get them to help around the house can be a challenge. So I have devised a list of ideas that might help

How to get your teens to help

1. Politely ask them to help you with the weeding

2. offer them rewards if they help you clean the chicken coop

3. Baby them and let them know you understand how unfair life is, that way they will feel like you get it

4. Ask them their opinion, they have many and it's important that you hear all of them

Okay. Remember I said a list that might help. But, here is my list and it works

Mom: Kids, it's time to get up, you and so and so are weeding the garden.

Teen: But I'm sooooo tired. Can't someone else do it? Can't you do it?

Mom: I don't care, quit staying up so late, get up.

Teen: I don't know why I have to weed, I didn't plant the stupid garden. I don't even eat the food from it.

Mom: You eat the food, it's called dinner so get up because you are helping whether you want to or not.

Teen: grunts, groans, makes whiny noises, sighs

So, here is a real list

How to get your teens to help

1. wake them up by saying "It's time to get up"

2. You can give them a reason if you choose to, but try not to argue because then they think helping is up for debate

3. Don't baby them (when they are fully awake, they hate being babied)

4. Tell them what you expect form them

5. Don't back down, even when they whine

6. Thank them for helping when they are helping. praise is always important no matter what age

My Teens always remember they love me after they have done their chores and often while they are still doing them.