How to create your own minions

So the thing that you know going into having little kids but don't really realize until you are knee deep in it is that they are a ton of work. Three kids means thirty toes and thirty fingers and every time we go swimming I have to sunscreen three and and towels for three and stomach viruses for three and so on and so forth. 

 Division of labor is a big thing for parents who have more than one kid and trust me - there is plenty of labor with three. 

When they were younger I would assign them chores to do because it was the right thing to do but honestly it was a major pain in the butt. You had to teach them and they did it wrong and everything had to be all developmentally and age appropriate for each kid and blah blah blah. 

So much easier to do it myself. 

Well now - the thing that husband and I have realized is that we have minions! They might be mouthy but you know what? They are pretty capable. They all want to live here and can pretty much be threatened or bribed into anything. 

They are also all three big enough that you can try out different stuff on them and it is probably not going to kill them. 

You know - stuff like "hey - see if you are big enough to run this lawnmower" 

and 

"Hey - let's see if you are big enough to dump this trash in the can".

Here are the minons hard at work

 

Here are some examples of things that I used to do before the minions and NEVER do now. Ever. Moms of preschoolers - please take heart when you read this list.....

 

unload the dishwasher

carry laundry baskets upstairs/downstairs

feed the dogs (at night - I still feed them in the am because I am up first and I am nothing but a kind soul so of course I feed them right after we go outside) 

take out the trash 

clear the table

mulch

Put away clean laundry in kids' rooms

Set the table

Water the dogs

Clean the Guinea Pig cage

Dump the dehumidifier

 

The list goes on and on I tell you on and on! 

 

Now don't get me wrong. I am not exactly sitting around and eating bon bons here and all of the activities and homework and this and that do keep me on my toes. Parenting is not for the faint of heart my friends but here is my advice for you regarding creating your own army of minions.

 

Feed your minions well. 

Support them in everything that they do.

Remind them (often if necessary) that they do live here for free

 

and soon you will have happy little people working industriously around the house. 

 

****Minion warning - they do bonk each other on the head on a regular basis, really enjoy fart noises and giggle - a lot, but overall - the minions are totally worth keeping around.*****