Does this bother anybody else?

I am in total agreement with your sentiments, and that's how we have handled chores and household duties with our son, who is now 17.

It's simply a part of being in a family, everyone pitches in.

Once he was 12, I think, we started giving allowance, not tied to anything - just walking-around money. Kids just need some cash!

When there is an unusual chore which is infrequent - such as doing the recycling of bottles every few months, he gets a cut of the bottle returns.

BTW, please pass along my compliments to your parents who raised such a wonderful daughter as you! Kudos to YOU for being so expressive and amazing!

The main thing I want to teach my daughter when I give her an allowance is money management and the importance of saving. She's only 2 now so she doesn't get an allowance, she gets all my change at the end of the day to put in her piggy bank. I started her a bank account when she was 2 weeks old so all her birthday and christmas money go straight in the bank, as she gets older and starts wanting things for herself I'll let her keep some, but definately not all. Some of everything she gets will go into that bank account and she'll thank me when she's 16 and wants a car or 18 or 19 and ready to move out on her own. Her college is already paid for by the GI bill (I'm transferring mine to her.)

How nice would it feel if when you graduate high school your parents said "Honey, you know that bank account you've been saving in? Well, you have $10,000 to get started in life."

You do make a good point. My kids are 7 and 4 yr old twins and they are responsible for cleaning their rooms even the 4 year old have been doing this since they were 2ish and i do not give them anything as a reward they also know if they do not clean their rooms and mom steps on toys they go away so hence toys on the floor = loss of toys, i make sure they have plenty of room and storage so there is no excuse for toys everywhere. My oldest is responsible for cleaning their bathroom and the 4 yr olds are now getting to help do that. They all help with laundry even if it is as simple as me making a pile and them taking it all and putting it in the washer and switching over to the dryer. If i give them a rag they know to help wipe things down. My oldest is now getting more responsibility and realizes he has to help to keep our house neat he cleans up the dogie do outside and has now gotten to where he will ask for the rake when he is done so he can rake our yard(it is rock we live in the desert) and he will rake the yard without being asked and likes doing it. Don't get me wrong he does go aww mom on occasion but will help and the twins are following we try to tell him he is setting an example for them.

we on occasion give him a few dollars 2-5 and he thinks it is great because were also trying to teach him how to save to buy something he wants because we think that is also a life lesson we have a change jar and he finds change everywhere and puts it in there to help save.

I don't think it is right that kids expect their parents to give them everything kids need to learn things don't come easy i had to help pay for my car and ins and i plan on making my kids do the same for the simple fact of learning responsibility.

I agree in some ways, but want to mention that it may be a way of teaching them good work ethics which they will take with them when they enter the job market. On the other hand, doing a good job on an assignment should be a reward in itself. I guess it depends on the individual families. I received an allowance when I was a kid, but not if I didn't do my chores. I know of some families who give their kids an allowance whether they do chores or not & I totally disagree with it as it teaches them that they will be rewarded for doing nothing.

Well, some kids are just stubborn and lazy, and they won't do **** unless they get something out of it. I was like that. I don't do my math homework unless it's helping me. And in most cases, it's stuff I already know. When I was a kid, I hated doing other people's landry, because what will that get me?

It can teach children the importance of money too. And just because it didn't teach you to spend money, doesn't mean it wont teach another child. One thing doesn't work for everyone.

Now that I'm 15, I don't do chores around the house unless it's for myself. Like my own laundry. If I want money, I sell on ebay.

honestly when i was a kid i didn't get rewards either and it just made me less motavated. i don't think candy or buying things is a good idea but stickers and rewards of time with a parent doing something they enjoy are a good idea as far as im concerned. it depends on the child. for instance children with ADD or ADHD (such as myself) get distracted easily and don't work well without a goal... if i had a goal i could work and get through things. and my goal couldn't just be to get it done... if it was "clean your room then you can go out" then my room would get cleaned. so don't judge everyone because you never know someone situation and not everyone can be like you. i do understand where your coming from but you do have to understand other points of perspective.

I do because a 4 year old has no concept of "for the greater good" they learn that hard work in general brings reward....which is true...if you clean the house you will be comfortable...if you do well at school you may get a good degree and then a good job...if you get a good job you get paid. EDIT Derail....why can't a 17 year old have good grammar? Some are writing proffesionally at that age!

My kids get paid monthly for doing certain things like chores. Keeping their bedrooms clean isn't something they get paid for. I pay them because they need to learn how to manage money. Also, parents don't get paid for doing things around the house, but if I want a new toy, I go buy it, my kids can't do that unless I pay them for doing something.

You bring up a good point here. I have to admit though, you use punctuation very well, you can express yourself effectively, and you write complete thoughts. In all honesty, I don't believe you're 17 years old.