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

I wish my DD would tidy up her toys and throw out the old ones. But it has to be done by stealth as if she sees them go she insists that they are her favourite despite not having played with them for years and despite the fact we are drowning in toys.

I have told her now that she either throws them all away, or I do!

I just wish my 9 year old daughter would tidy up her room without being nagged half the time.Would be great if she liked ironing when she,s older like my mum does.I hate it,so would love to pass that chore on.

Maybe mine would like to paint and tile the kitchen? Or at least clean the house from top to bottom and defeat laundry mountain!

My sons are quite good at helping but I wish they would both tidy their room and get rid of the piles of clothes, books and general stuff that is on the floor!

What i would like is for them to clean the house but realistically my list is:

Tidy shoes from hall
Pick clothes up from bedroom floor
Don't leave sweat wrappers in the lounge!

Sweets!

My oak worktops need sanding down and oiling.
It's a horrid dusty messy job. They could do that while I relax outside with a glass of wine.
(Can you actually imagine the carnage....?)

I wish mines was old enough to
Clean up after him self
Help with the washing up
Old enough to understand hitting his sister is wrong lol

I would like it if they did anything without being nagged. As a child I was expected to do a great deal round the house which I resented so I was adamant that I wouldn't inflict the same expectations on my children. I am still happy with my decision but just sometimes.......

I would really like my teenager to clean her room up. I refuse to wash any clothes that aren't put in the washing basket. Today she was moaning that she had no clean socks - I suggested that she pulled the bed out from the wall - I've checked and there are at least 10 down there!

Ooh - wish mine would fetch the wood pellets for the boiler. She's pretty good on cleaning the bathroom with me though, so perhaps I should let her off on the pellets.

I wish my son learnt to help himself whenever he fancies a drink, or a piece of fruit. He has special needs, though, so it is going to take him longer.
He absolutely loved Lemony Snicket books and now the series, BTW- we all enjoyed it.

Clean the windows, that`s my top hate it job! cleaning the oven comes close but its the windows I really hate, hate them dirty too though!

take out the rubbish, wash the cars and polish :)

Do the mountain of laundry
Wash the never-ending pile of dishes
Hoover the food-covered floors
Mop the sticky floor
Scrub the bathroom
Cook the meals

To polish his own shoes and cook dinner for one night. DS is five so I'll stick with him just doing his homework.

My eldest is 7. I wish she would put her pyjamas tidily under her pillow when she dresses each morning, instead of strewing them artistically on the floor....Thats probably an unrealistic expectation... 😉

I wish she could clean up (at least her stuff) at the end of the day, run herself a bath, brush teeth (without nagging) and put herself to bed - this would give me a lovely break at the end of each day :-)

Cleaning the bathroom would be my top pick for chores the kids could do, but I don't quite trust them with bleach etc yet!

I wish my DCs could give the entire house a huge spring clean, festoon it with fresh flowers, prepare tea for the week, and… best of all... pair up all of the socks!

It would be helpful if they would get out of bed before midday, as they waste the day sleeping it all away, then staying up til midnight watching TV. They are oblivious to alarm clocks, opening of curtains, unpleasant noise and death threats. Will be resorting to buckets of water soon, but then I would have to change the bedsheets which is yet another chore they could do with learning.

I wish mine could clear up their own toys & maybe do the washing up. They do try and help out around the house but I find the more they try to help the more I've got to do!

I wish my younger one didn't spread Lego bricks all around the house. How difficult is it to put Lego back in one place, and not make me step on it in the dark. As for the tasks that are never done in this house, should I make them polish the silver? I have a few teaspoons which are feeling unpolished and unloved.

Dd1. Cooking, floors and foot massage.
Dd2: bathroom, oven and scalp massage.
That is all.

I wish I could get the DDs to de-clutter their toys. If I ask them to sort out toys to give away they're fine with the theory of passing things on, but in practice every toy becomes a favourite, despite not having played with it for months. I have to try and sneak things to the charity shop and hope they forget about it. I've been caught out a few times after I've given neglected soft toys to the charity shop, only for them to be remembered months later as a 'favourite'.