Years ago, the mason working on our house was telling us how hard it was to find good help. He wasn’t even going for skill, just someone to show up and do some basic tasks. After watching his young employee struggle with a wheelbarrow, he finally had to say, “Put. The Pepsi. Down.” We have been using this phrase in our house ever since.
While Ben has no understanding of the line’s origin or meaning, especially if he is holding an Orange Crush instead of a Pepsi, he does get that it is a critique of his job performance. Ben’s response to constructive criticism is to double down, usually with the phrase, “I can do both.” I can buy it when he is sauteeing onions, peppers, and beans for burritos, while holding a soda, but he also employs the phrase “I can do both,” to try to evade chores, his own personal Schrodinger’s Cat Defense.
Me: What do you mean, you can both fold and not fold the towels?
Ben: I know, right? It’s a challenge.
We recently increased Ben’s chore expectations of tasks he could master, and he is fighting it hard. We have tried giving some choice as to when and what is done, but this is a work in progress. I think part of the problem is that he resists taking instruction, especially from me, and who do you know that actually enjoys doing chores?
At least Ben still brings his enthusiasm to cooking. We made a great batch of burritos! As for loading the dishwasher after the meal? Put. The Pepsi. Down.
