Tell Count Olaf the chores you wish you could ask your DCs to do this half term - chance to win £300 voucher NOW CLOSED

[CountOlaf]

Hello, hello, hello… It is I, Count Olaf – guardian of the Baudelaire orphans Violet, Klaus and Sunny, and magnificent and respected theatre performer.

Violet is the eldest; she is followed by Klaus, and then Sunny, who is an infant. I have provided these lucky orphans with a rat-infested room - including a complementary pile of rocks at no cost to them, and shampoo that encourages tears - and I believe, therefore, that I am quite justified in asking them to do a range of minor chores for me in return.

My list includes:

• Keep the kitchen gleamingly clean
• Keep the library well dusted
• Polish the floors in the ballroom
• Hang my undergarments in the laundry room after they've washed them
• Weed, mow, and preen the gardens
• Chop wood in the back yard

Alas, these wealthy brats have been utterly spoilt! They've never done a chore in their lives, and therefore believe that I am BU to ask them to carry out such tasks - which is why, my adoring MNer fans, I wish to ask you: which chores you wish you could ask your DCs to do?

I feel your anguish having to spend more time with your DCs since it’s half term, so what chores do you wish you could ask your DCs to do during half term? Would you like your moody teenager to be able to whip up a Michelin star meal? Or your toddler to not only put away their toys, but also hoover the lounge? Whether it’s something small like wanting your DCs to do the washing up or make their own beds, or something more elaborate like wishing they would Marie Kondo your wardrobe or build you a garden retreat, tell me, Count Olaf - and I will reward one of you with a £300 voucher.

Yours most handsomely,

Count Olaf

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Dear Count Olaf,
I have 3 little ones of my own and, although I find your list a tad extreme, perhaps a little bit of help in getting them to keep their rooms tidy, dirty clothes put in the laundry basket and help with putting things away would be much appreciated.
Loving your work
Crumble67

My older two are quite good and will help out after badgering them. I sometimes wish my youngest could manage to go up and down stairs without supervision so i wouldnt have to keep going with her to the loo. not really a chore as such but thats what id ask for

Olivia is only 3 but she's very good at helping out. Here she is helping her GG wash up & with her own little bag of gardening tools in the garden. It would be good if she could mop up the muddy footprints off the utility room & kitchen floor though

Hmmm, I don't have children but am tempted to set the cats to work for their Whiskas.
Maybe asking them to make coffee, cook dinner and do some general tidying would be a start.

To have a clear out of their bedroom.

empty dishwasher, keep room tidy, sort the recycling out and hoover the stairs

Well, can't believe you really need to ask this. My dc are, of course Mumsnet trained. They have been loading the washing machine since they could crawl and started making their own packed lunches as soon as they could reach the organic humus and cut carrot batons. Sadly I have to do my own shopping whilst they are at school, work and university as, at 21, 19 and 10, it would obviously be unsafe to leave them in the house to pop to the corner shop (there could be a fire or a burglary) and I can't leave them in the car as it may spontaneously combust.

Oh gosh, that reminds reminds me. I must phone the university to tell them that we will be submitting ds3's essay late and that I won't have him penalised and will, of course, be attending the first day of his work placement with him to settle him in.

The washing up, I hate it with a passion!

the ironing i absolutely hate it

Not bicker and wind each other up!!

I would mainly be happy if they would just put something away before they got the next thing out! Aside from that I would love someone to do my ironing, it takes me 3 hours at a time-All the things I could do with a precious 3 hours! Mine are only 6 and 3 so that's a looooong way off

Oh Count Olfa I'd be thrilled with the basics. Don't take food to your room. If you ignore this rule then bring your dishes downstairs. If you want to make me feel like a queen then actually wash them. Try not to spill drinks all over the place because you're engrossed in your tablet. Do some homework - ANY homework. GO OUTSIDE - even if for 5 minutes a day. I woudn't want the sun to burn your skin.

Ironing. I HATE ironing!

I wish they could do all the cooking and cleaning for me so that I could relax after work

oh cleaning the oven is the big nemesis for me! I cannot remember how many different methods I have used - the only one I haven't tried is getting the little ones to clean it for me HA HA - Before anyone comments I am only joking! I would never do that - I will just continue sending them up the chimney with the broom - OK - off to watch Mary Poppins now lol

Pick. The godforsaken. LEGO UP!!

I'd love to get them to work cleaning the oven. A job I hate!

Tidy the bedroom, pick the dirty clothes up off the floor and put them into the washing basket in your ROOM, brush your teeth without prompting, it might be half term but brushing your teeth is not just for school days :) make the bed, if the first top you try on isnt right then fold it back up, do not add it to the pile on the floor, that loud thing in the cupboard keeps the carpets clean why not try it for a change... blah blah blah

I would love it if they could clean the toilet after they have been...

Oven cleaning would also be great - I hate it!

It would be nice if my daughter could get up and sort her own breakfast out then make me a bacon and egg butty too. Not likely at the age of 7 though!

I wish mine would gut the garden in good time to enjoy it come summer. It's a job I am not looking forward to....

It would be fantastic if they were old enough and big enough to help with the unpacking when we move house...Alas my wish won't becoming true so it will be all down to me

Clean the oven and do the ironing 😊

Id love my little ones to tidy away after everything they get out, to make their own beds and to help me cook their dinner haha.