To expect teens at home to clear up a bit while I am at work

[Myusernameismyusername]

Came home for lunch to find them still in PJ's (fine, not an issue) but the whole kitchen and living room look like student digs. Now they are annoyed I pointed out they knew I was coming home for lunch, but making lunch is difficult because the kitchen is such a tip.

Also I am unreasonable for not wanting to come home from work and spend 2 hours cleaning the kitchen, then cooking and then cleaning the kitchen up again

They just can't see it can they? I get accused of slavery when I express my frustration also

[albertcampionscat]

Why are you making them lunch?

[Myusernameismyusername]

I was making my own lunch not theirs

[albertcampionscat]

I mean, I know why, because you love them and you're nice and they're nice kids under the teenage uselessness, but it has to be counterproductive at this stage.

[albertcampionscat]

Cross post, sorry!

[Ohyesiam]

YAsoNBU, but they won't see it like that....

[Myusernameismyusername]

I can't wait for them to get their Own houses one day and I wil go in and do this to their kitchens (I probably will not but I will dream of it)

[Almostfifty]

I've had this out many times with my DC. Last time I told them I'd put a lock on the kitchen door till I got home if they did it again.

It's worked so far...

[Myusernameismyusername]

I'm considering a strike

[ImperialBlether]

I'm laughing at slavery. They need some history lessons.

I know you shouldn't have to, but could you send a text an hour before you leave work, saying what you expect to be done on your return?

Oh and always link it to lifts and money. Works every time.

[Jugglingballs65]

Make them clean up and tell them that if it happens again the wifi code will be changed or you will take the router to work.

[smoothieooo]

My teens suddenly become very tidy and helpful the day or 2 before allowance day.... but it still needs pointing out to them!

I agree with PP that you should send a text an hour before you arrive - there is then is no excuse for coming home to a mess. It's amazing how it just doesn't occur to them to clean up!

[Myusernameismyusername]

I do text little lists, and the wifi is probably the next solution!

They are otherwise good kids it's just this one issue and when I left DD had the cheek to say 'I hope you come home in a better mood later!' Which i replied 'I don't know many slaves who sit watching Netflix all day!' And it was a bit of a bitch off haha

[Myusernameismyusername]

The scene when I got home was the same old row over DD1 making baked bloody beans. Bean sauce everywhere and a bowl soaking with beans in and a bean sauce plate 'oh I will do it later!'

I may hide the beans

[Peach9876]

Do they get pocket money?
My dad used to tell us how hard he and DM worked to get his wage each month. That if they stopped doing their jobs they would get warnings and then fired. That we got our 'spend' for doing well at school and for helping out at home, those were our jobs.
It didn't always work as he would forget or fall soft by the end of the month, but when he did stick to it it worked. That said we rarely back chatted DDad like that!

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

YANBU to hope that they would have done it, but tbh, I think you needed to give them explicit directions that you expected it to be done. As in "Make sure this place is tidy when I get home at X time or Y and Z consequences will occur".
Anything else is too wishy washy.

[Myusernameismyusername]

I did, I called on the way home and said please clear up the mess you have made

[cricketballs]

seen a photo on fb of a list of jobs and instructions on what needs to be in the photo to prove it has been taken that day and in return the wifi code will be sent (you will need to change your code on a daily basis)

[PrunesforElla]

Definitely turn wifi off until it's done. I also have said in the past if they don't do their kitchen chores, I won't do mine. So dirty kitchen = me cooking for myself and no-one else.

Once I even went to Burger King, brought it home and ate it on the couch in front of them but I was really, really pissed off with them that day for multiple housework related issues.

[ComfortingKormaBalls]

Arrr! yes Baked beans - especially when they put the empty pan back onto the warm hob so the juice cooks onto the pan making it impossible to clean off.

[Myusernameismyusername]

Baked beans are THE WORST culprit of a mummy strop

[Myusernameismyusername]

At 3.30 I am going to log into my broadband account and try change the password - can I do it from work?

[Trifleorbust]

I sometimes leave a mess for a while - dishes from the night before and so on. Right now I'm lazing and MNing. BUT when it is time to clear up, I will be the one clearing up. Tell them it's not on. You expect dishes to be done within an hour of eating or some similar but reasonable deadline. If they don't, remove access to the kitchen by locking it and making them a packed lunch

[EnoughAlready43]

Yep turn off the wifi.
and no more treats until they clear up after themselves.

[Helenluvsrob]

Change the WIFI and netflix codes...They'll either sort it out or go and make a mess at their friends house instead!

[hazell42]

Not unreasonable. Unrealistic maybe...