Teens and Chores: Turn Reluctance Into Responsibility
No one loved doing household chores growing up, but chores are great for building character and work ethic. If we shirk our responsibilities, we inevitably turn into vegetables — couch potatoes. No doubt, convincing your teenagers of the value of hard work and the importance of doing their chores can be trying at times. Sure, many grumble about “kids these days” and how parenting used to be, but we should remember that child-rearing has come a long way since the old days. For example, when Aztec children refused to do their chores, their parents would hold them over smoking chilies, resulting in eye- watering, skin-irritating torment — basically the Mesoamerican equivalent of pepper spraying kids in
the face. The further we can get from that standard of parenting, the better. So, here are two tips to help convince your teens to chip in around the house — no peppers needed. Frame it differently. Sometimes, all you need is a change in perspective. Rather than simply stating that things need to get done — “Because I said so!” — it can help to pitch chores as ways your teens can help around the house. Talk about everything that needs to be done to contribute to a healthy, happy home. There’s grocery shopping, feeding the dog, doing the laundry, maintaining the ever-growing collection of succulents, you name it. This will give them more perspective into how much their parents currently take on. Then, break down which
responsibilities they’ll be assigned to complete and how often you expect them to do each task. Good work deserves a reward. Chore money has always been a great incentive to encourage teens to do their part around the home. These days, there are even apps, like BusyKid, that assign a monetary value to different chores around the house. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank, but teaching your kids that hard work pays off can motivate them to accomplish more around the home.
Steer Clear of Holiday Driving Hazards Winter Woes
themselves to meet year-end social demands can feel more tired behind the wheel, posing a risk to themselves and others.
Also, 1 in 3 deaths happen amid snowy, rainy, or foggy winter weather. Freak accidents such as the 130-vehicle pileup on an icy stretch of I-35W in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2021 demonstrate that wintry weather can hit anywhere. Even public safety vehicles can pose a hazard, as shown when an Ohio Turnpike snowplow driver sprayed slush and ice onto oncoming traffic in January 2022, injuring 20 people in collisions involving 55 vehicles. The stress of increased social activity and holiday spending can cause some people to drive more aggressively. More than 1 in 4 highway deaths in the last two months of the year involved a motorist who was speeding, according to a U.S. News and World Report analysis of federal highway data. Almost 8% of highway deaths involved a driver distracted from the road by passengers, cellphones, or other preoccupations. Male drivers are more at risk than women, especially those ages 18 to their mid-30s and their late 50s, according to the magazine’s analysis. Combine the risk of drunk, drowsy, or distracted drivers with increased nighttime traffic and the seasonal risk of snow or ice, and the result can be dangerous for anyone on the road. As your holiday activities gain momentum this month, don’t let this perfect storm of highway hazards ruin your celebration!
The year-end holidays can be a joyful time with friends and family. The season also delivers a perfect storm of highway hazards, even for the most careful drivers. Drunk, drowsy, distracted, or stressed-out motorists pose elevated travel risks for everybody on the road. Drinking is more socially acceptable at this time of year, and even expected. New Year’s Eve is one of the deadliest nights of the year. Nearly half of U.S. traffic fatalities each year are linked in some way to drinking, according to the American Safety Council. The highest risk of accidents over Christmas comes between the afternoon of Christmas Eve and the evening of Christmas Day, when revelers are likely to hit the road under the influence of alcohol. Fatigue also can cloud motorists’ judgment. People actually sleep less, not more, over the holidays. Drivers who stay out a little later than usual, consume a lot of rich foods, and extend
Published by Newsletter Pro // www.newsletterpro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator