It's a deal!
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85660)
United States
January 27, 2011 5:32am CST
I was reading another mylotter's discussion this morning when I thought about something my mom had me do when I was younger. My sister and I each had certain chores. Each week, we would switch. Well, some chores I hated more than others, and the same with my sister. So we would sometimes trade chores. Many times (I guess I didn't learn my lesson the first time she tricked me) I'd do her chore, and then she wouldn't do mine, the one we traded. So when my mom would ask me why it wasn't done, I told her Mindy (my sister) was supposed to do it. Well, my sly older sister would lie. And I would end up having done her chore AND mine.
It wasn't that my mom didn't believe me, it was just that I couldn't prove it. So she told me to write up a contract with my sister. When we would trade chores, I would write out what the agreement was, and have her sign it. That way she couldn't lie and get out of doing what she was supposed to. It worked great.
Did your parents ever have interesting methods of working out situations between you and your siblings? Or hey, what is the last contract you signed? I guess mine would be leasing my apartment. Anyway, your turn to share...
5 people like this
16 responses
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
27 Jan 11
Sounds like your parents were really smart about this one, not only they found a way to keep you and your sister from quarreling, they also taught you an important lesson in the process - always put your contract in writing 
The last contract I signed was when I rented out my apartment, before moving in with my parents. It felt weird, because I rented the apartment to a good friend of mine, and she said a handshake would be enough between friends, but I insisted to have everything written and registered. A couple of months later she underwent a very strict financial audit, and the inspectors checked her finances thoroughly, and guess who was happy to have a proper contract in place?
The last contract I signed was when I rented out my apartment, before moving in with my parents. It felt weird, because I rented the apartment to a good friend of mine, and she said a handshake would be enough between friends, but I insisted to have everything written and registered. A couple of months later she underwent a very strict financial audit, and the inspectors checked her finances thoroughly, and guess who was happy to have a proper contract in place? 2 people like this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
27 Jan 11
Anything to do with money should be have a written agreement, all other a handshake should be ok. Where I grew up our word was our bond.
@mhypie03 (683)
• Philippines
28 Jan 11
That is so clever of them. I've made borrower's agreement before but after being flooded in 2009, I could not find it anymore. Anyhow, I am still in constant contact with the person since she's a friend and former colleague. Though until now, no news as to when it could be possibly be returned which I understand very much. She is on her last 2 installment payments and with that, I am no longer charging her the interests for it. I just hope it could really be returned.
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
28 Jan 11
My sister never would trade choirs with me but would throw something at me that wasn't worth nothing and say here is what you get doing my choir and leave real quick so I would do it. She was older then me and I was always scared of her because when my parents left sometimes it was an alarm for her to pick on me.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
27 Jan 11
My brothers and I didn't have any chores growing up other than to keep our rooms clean but our next door neighbors two kids had to do the dishes every night. One would do them one night and the other did them the next and they did it like that till they moved out. I remember having to wait for her to finish on her night before being able to come outside.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Jan 11
Just goes to show you can't even trust family! Get it in writing every time! We didn't do things like that. It wasn't allowed. The boys took out the trash, the girls did the dishes every night and other house work during the week. Unfair to the max, and me and my sister complained at how little they had to do and how much we had to do, but if fell on deaf ears.
With my kids, I'd assign chores, and some they did together...like dusting and polishing, my son was younger, so he went around the livig room and moved everything off the tables etc to the floor, my daughter went and dust/polished and then he'd go back and put things back on the tables. They each had to clean their own room and i taught them how to put their own laundry (later teaching them to do their own) and things like that. They both had to clear the dinner table and do things to finish the meal time. IT was so we could ALL have fun time instead of just some. Worked great.
1 person likes this
@housechaos7 (609)
•
27 Jan 11
My mum had 8 kids and we had chores but were not allowed to swap unless it was permanant,but your mum had a good idea.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
27 Jan 11
what a sly sister. but i guess thats the way siblings are. i had none so i cant say with me. i had to do any chores needing done. but my kids were like that and my daughter would do the same with her brothers. your mom was smart cause i never knew how to deal with it and would just do them myself rather then argue with them
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
27 Jan 11
Your mom having you create a contract was a wonderful idea. I'm not sure what my mom's response would have been, but it wouldn't have been a contract. It probably would have been along the lines..."Well if so-and-so didn't do what she said she'd do, then don't make deals with her again. Do your own work."
As for the last contract I signed, it was yesterday. I changed auto/home insurance and signed new policies yesterday and then signed documents to cancel my old insurance. In the process, I actually saved a few hundred dollars.
@AmbiePam (85660)
• United States
28 Jan 11
My mom told me that. Believe me, she told me that. She kept asking me why are you making deals with her when you not only end up doing your work, but hers too? The answer was that I was a shy girl who adored her outgoing older sister. She was my hero. It took three times to get burned before my mom came up with the contract idea.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
28 Jan 11
Yeah, I use to "idolize" my older brother. And when I'd get "beat up" playing with the boys and come home crying, my mom's comment..."then don't play with the boys!" Two minutes later I was out the door to go play again with my brother and his friends...
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
7 Feb 11
I can't say that we had such contract's and agreements while I was growing up but I do see the logic and reasoning behind it.
It also gave the both of you an opportunity to learn fairness and business ethics. This is a great strategy, as my sister in law also does the same with her five children. 
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Hi. AmbiePam. I think that your mother's idea was a brilliant idea. Now your youngest sister cannot get out of lying on you. She will sign the agreement and it will state that she submitted to trading chores with you. I am glad that your mom has done it this way.
It is not fair to you at all.
Fair is fair. You should not have to do both of the chores just because your sister was not being honest. I have never had a contract to sign at all like this. When my aunt used to live with us, we had a list that was taped to the kitchen wall by the sink. And, all of our names were on it, of whom had to wash dishes on the day that it was time to. We all took a part into cleaning up. We had to make a schedule because my cousins and sister would try to get out of washing the dishes. They would leave it all on us to do. Especially, my youngest sister. She was pretty lazy about cleaning up. But my other cousins tried to play fair when it came to the schedule. We even traded days too, kind of like how you and your sister did. It helped out especially, if I had a date that I had to go on, or if I just did not feel like cleaning up at all on that particular day.
It is not fair to you at all. Fair is fair. You should not have to do both of the chores just because your sister was not being honest. I have never had a contract to sign at all like this. When my aunt used to live with us, we had a list that was taped to the kitchen wall by the sink. And, all of our names were on it, of whom had to wash dishes on the day that it was time to. We all took a part into cleaning up. We had to make a schedule because my cousins and sister would try to get out of washing the dishes. They would leave it all on us to do. Especially, my youngest sister. She was pretty lazy about cleaning up. But my other cousins tried to play fair when it came to the schedule. We even traded days too, kind of like how you and your sister did. It helped out especially, if I had a date that I had to go on, or if I just did not feel like cleaning up at all on that particular day.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
27 Jan 11
My siblings were all too far apart in age to need any creative problem solving. My foster brother is 16 years older than me. My real brother is 9 years younger, and my sister is 14 years younger. Though my foster brother did tease me a lot when I was really young, none of us ever had any typical sibling quarrels due to our age difference.
My kids do though.. but nothing like that. They just fight and argue a lot, and always when I'm not looking or listening. My daughter swears the boys torture her, but I can't tell if that's actually them or if she's being a drama queen to get some attention. I think maybe it's a little of both.
