Giving my 7 year old a paying job has been my favorite decision so far.

A few months back, I decided to start having my 7 year old learn to do laundry. Once he was competent, I began to pay him $1 per load to wash, dry, and bring upstairs. Let me tell you - it's been GREAT.On my end, it makes it easier to stay on top of the household stuff! There are some weeks that he does most of the laundry, and some when I do most of it, but laundry is no longer an insurmountable chore that will never be done. Last week, for the first time, I went to throw in a load of laundry and realized that there wasn't even a full load that needed to be done. Whoa.On his end, it's been a big lesson in saving for short- and long-term goals. When he wants a new toy or game, I've begun to tell him that he will need to earn the money to buy it himself. The fidget spinner craze spread through his school, and he had to wait until he'd earned the money to buy one. Then he wanted a new playstation game, and actually took the time to calculate how many weeks it would take to save up for it. We talked through buying new vs used and he decided to get an older version on ebay. There are also times when he wants to spend his money on treats or snacks, and I've found that he cares a lot less about buying a slushy when that money could go towards something he's saving up for.So I just wanted to say that I'm proud as hell of this kid and the mature way he's learning to balance his priorities. Plus, it makes my life easier at the same time. Win-win! via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2tDhVnB