Step children not cleaning their room.

[TheFoz]

I wrote a big long thread and it disappeared so I’ll keep this brief.

DH is gone away for a couple of weeks, his young teens are still coming here on their scheduled time with him. Last week I asked them to clean their room, they did a basic clean. I asked them to clean it properly, they refused. I withheld their games console.

How should I proceed with this when they return next week? Their room is disgusting, DH knows this and doesn’t seem to be bothered, he’s lazy about cleaning himself.

I really don’t want to be the wicked stepmother but their room is full of discarded food, wrappers, bowls, cutlery etc. It’s only a matter of time before there is a furry friend in there.

The "kids" sound like filthy, spoiled little brats. She shouldn't have to ask nicely, reprimand, chastise, tip toe around anyone in her (and their) home. They should have enough respect for the house to keep it clean and tidy, their room/drawers included. All this pussy footing around teenagers is nonsense. It may be "their" home, but it's not their house. They don't pay for it, the adults do. The adults need to adults, and the kids need to learn some respect.

I would stick to the no screens until the room is tidy.

Reward with the screens and game console for up to two hours per day in exchange for them keeping their room tidy.
It will take them less than one hour of their weekend to clean and tidy.

They are the kids and you are the responsible adult. Speak to them with respect. Ask for reasonable behaviour and set ground rules for future behaviour in your home. You are requiring nothing more than what you would expect of your own children. And you are teaching them life skills.

So to update, they asked for the games console, I asked was the room cleaned, they said they would get it done. They came back to me a while later to say it was done, I checked, told them to do x, y and z. Checked again and they had it cleaned. Games console was given back.

Thanks for all the responses. Ultimately I very much have a DH problem and I can’t see that changing.

Dh pays her cms and the roof over their heads? Wtaf have i just read?