After dinner, I asked my son, Alex, to wash his plate, and suddenly, he burst out

After dinner, Alex dropped his plate in the sink and walked away. When I asked him to wash it, he shot back, “I’m not your slave!” Taken aback, I tried to explain that pitching in with chores wasn’t servitude; it was part of being a family. But Alex wasn’t having it. “Unpaid work is basically slavery,” he argued, crossing his arms defiantly.

Before I could respond, my husband stepped in. Calm but firm, he pointed out that Alex enjoyed shelter, food, clothing, and education, all provided by us. “We’re not asking you to pay rent, but we are asking for teamwork,” he said. Still, Alex wasn’t budging. He insisted that if we wanted his help, we’d have to pay him for his “labor.”

Recognizing a teachable moment, my husband asked, “Alright, Alex. How much do you think your chores are worth?”

Alex’s eyes lit up at the question, sensing an opportunity to “win.” He named a figure, and my husband nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, deal. But remember, if you’re being paid, you’ll be responsible for everything your pay covers—no exceptions.”

The next morning, Alex woke up to find an envelope on his nightstand containing the exact amount he’d requested. Smiling triumphantly, he came downstairs for breakfast, feeling like he’d outsmarted us. But as he sat down, my husband handed him a neatly typed list.

Alex frowned, reading aloud: “Wash your own clothes, clean your room, take out the trash, help prepare meals, do the dishes…” The list went on. His initial confidence evaporated. “Wait, what’s all this?”

“That’s the work you’re being paid for,” my husband explained evenly. “If you’re an employee, you’re responsible for your own upkeep, just like anyone else earning a paycheck.”

“But… but I didn’t think it would be this much!” Alex protested.

“Welcome to the real world,” my husband replied with a shrug.

Determined to prove he could handle it, Alex tried keeping up with the tasks. By midday, he was exhausted and overwhelmed. By the end of the day, he sat slumped on the couch, muttering, “This isn’t worth it.”

That evening, Alex handed back the envelope. “I don’t want to be paid anymore,” he said sheepishly. “I’ll just do my chores like before. I didn’t realize how much you guys already do.”

My husband smiled. “Lesson learned, then?”

Alex nodded. From that day on, he contributed without complaint—though he occasionally teased us about his “short-lived career as a household employee.” It was a lesson he wouldn’t forget, and one we’d all laugh about for years to come.

Related Posts

Old School Cool: Some of the greatest photos ever taken

Last updated on June 24th, 2024 at 12:45 am There’s cool, and then there’s the timeless “old-school cool.” Whether it’s the punks of the 1980s or sophisticates…

How a Groundbreaking TV Show Shattered Stereotypes and Redefined Female Heroes

When Charlie’s Angels first hit the small screen in 1976, no one could have predicted the massive cultural impact it would have. Created by Ivan Goff and…

“The NCAA has made a new decision.”

In a groundbreaking decision, the NCAA has ruled to strip Lia Thomas of all previously earned titles. The move comes after mounting debates and growing public pressure…

Jacqueline Bisset, 78, continues to dazzle audiences with her innate beauty

Jacqueline Bisset, born Winifred Jacqueline Fraser Bisset on September 13, 1944, in Weybridge, Surrey, England, has carved a distinguished career in cinema with a blend of timeless…

Woman hits back at older people for judging tattooed body

A young British woman is clapping back at the “older generation” who insist that when she’s 60, she’ll regret covering her body with tattoos. Though she admits…

If You Remember These Coming In a Tin Can..You Might be Old

A social media video of a cat ‘helping’ her owner, who has a chronic skin condition, apply band aids to arms and legs has melted hearts online….