our 16 yr old does kitchen,dishes(dishwasher) and trash. she also cleans her own br and bath. as much time as she spends in the bath it should be spotless! the 10 and 4yr old do alot less but they also don't get the allowance and extras the 16 yr old gets. everyone cleans their own animals and chips in with the snakes sometimes.


12 yr olds can be frustrating (it doesn't get better)! lol personally i am pretty firm and strict, if i say do it it better get done. i was rasied in an old fashioned military household. my wife is a bit more forgiving and easy going, the kids work her over alot! lol i don't have a solid answer, maybe a bit of both tough love and understanding? make a compromise but set a consequence if it isn't reached?

vaughn