I know I'm being petty but.....

[Somanykiddies]

Mealtimes are particularly stressfull for me as 1) I hate cooking 2) I have to cater for two extremely picky vegetarians (long story there) and 3) they never seem to appreciate what I put in front of them anyway. We have a dishwasher that we use quite a lot, washing up for seven is just too much sometimes, but they always have to wash their cups and breakfast things. So at lunch today they had rolls on dirty plates because they had clearly not done a good job the previous day. I am sick and tired of keep telling them that it is unhygenic and lazy, a simple bit of washing up, warm water, liquid, not tricky is it. So tonight rather than tip out the cold water that they washed up with at lunchtime and left in the sink, they left the bowl on the side and rinsed cups under the tap!! I'm fully aware that this sounds so petty but they really are taking the p*ss. I just seem to be nagging and nagging and they just keep taking and taking. Sorry for rant, will pour another glass of wine!

I think you all need to sit round the table and make a list of family rules... jobs that are expected of them, behaviour ect... ask them if they can think of any you can put down.. then everyone will know what is expected of them, You need to state that you are all a team and need to work together...

Good luck....

by the way... can't they load and unload the dishwasher as opposed to doing their own seperately....

I agree with mumeeee,
Same in our house,ONE meal is cooked,if you don't like it you go without,very simple.
I'd just stick everything in the dishwasher,since you have one,but get them to help out around the house in other ways.The older ones should be able to do quite a bit, but even the 6yo can do small things.
My 7yo's bring their plates out to the kitchen,put their clothes away or in the washing basket when undressing.Collect bins from around the house, for me when I'm putting the rubbish out, make their beds every morning,etc. and have done since they were about 5yo.
My one DS(7yo)is very indepenant and can make his own toast and do scrammbled egg in the microwave.If he's hungry he loves to go off and make his own sandwitch.