A couple of nights ago, DH told our three that one had to clear and wipe down the table, one had to empty the dishwasher, and the other had to fill it.
DS (9) sat down to finish his homework, and was going to do the table, after.
DD1 (14) said she would fill the dishwasher, leaving DD2 (12) to empty it first. But DD2 did not want to empty, and DD1 would not budge. She said she would empty the next night, and DD2 could fill. DD2 stomped off and said she wouldn't do either. I followed, and said I wouldn't get involved in who did what, but it all had to be done. I said it wasn't fair of her to expect me to cook meals, do washing, blah, blah, blah, and her to do nothing. She would come down and do one of the jobs.
(At is point, DH wades in and starts doing a martyr act, about how he'll do it all himself. I tell him to stop being a martyr.)
DS then comes in from doing his homework, and says he will empty, and DD2 can clear and wipe. (DS is my hero!)
This whole scenario took as long as it would take for the three of them to do the three jobs, which they all did, anyway, and took up a loooooad of energy!
Gaaaaaagh!