Dear Shayna B.,

My problem happens all year, but is especially upsetting in the summer when I’m supposed to be having fun. It’s … chores! Every time my parents see me they ask me if I could please [….], or could I please […], it’ll only take a minute, and how come I left […] over there, it has to be put away. I am not their servant! How can I get a little more respect and less work this summer?! Please help.

Too Many Chores Mindy

Dear Too Many Chores Mindy,

If you think positively about your chores, like, oh … folding laundry is SO easy, I’ll be done with it in no time, anyway. Or, cleaning my room—well it might be annoying, but the results are so worth it. You might not even believe that, but keep saying it to yourself, and hopefully you will. Also, if you are getting so many chores that it takes out a BIG chunk of your time, ask your parents for fewer chores, tell them it is way too much, but nicely. And if you throw out all the things that need to be washed, dried, cleaned, etc., you’ll get a very stern lecture from your parents, but at least you’ll have a lot fewer chores to do.

Best of luck,
Shayna

PS: Shoutout to a very special kallah and a very special friend of the kallah! Have a fantastic wedding!

Shayna is a rising seventh grader and knows what kids in elementary school and middle school are going through. She can be reached at [email protected]. She’s looking forward to hearing from you!