Parents Hatch Genius Plot to Catch Their Kids Skipping Chores

These parents’ brilliant scheme will ensure their kids never want to skip chores again

Kids aren’t exactly known for staying on top of their chores. But one couple, fed up with their kids blowing off cleaning their bathroom, came up with a plan to both catch them in the act and ensure they’ll never skip out on their duties again. They posted it to Reddit, where it’s quickly going viral.

“My kids haven’t cleaned their bathroom like they were supposed to. I decided to leave a note under a rag they left on the floor. Let’s see if they find it. It’s been a week already,” the post reads.

My kids haven’t cleaned their bathroom like they were supposed to. I decided to leave a note under a rag they left on the floor. Let’s see if they find it. It’s been a week already.
byu/prevuznack infunny

The accompanying photo shows the note the parents hid under that dirty bathroom rag. It reads, “Congratulations! You’ve found this note! If you’re reading this, you’ve won $50. But, here’s the catch. However many days have passed since the date at the top will be subtracted from the pot. Good luck!”

Commenters loved the idea, obviously. Many of them also shared their own stories of similar tactics.

“Once, when we sent our son off to Boy Scout camp, I wrapped a $20 bill around his toothbrush before he left and didn’t tell him about it,” one commenter wrote. “When he got back, I asked if he found the money I left for him. He said, ‘What money?’ Busted.”

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, the parents who made the Reddit post have been providing updates.

The first one, posted a few days after the note was left, reads, “Update: My daughter washed towels from their bathroom but still has not picked up the washcloth. They also emptied their trash bin which is nice but still odd that the cloth is on the floor waiting to be picked up.”

11 days later, they added, “Update: Sorry for the lack of updates! I guess this update is basically a non-update. Believe it or not, the washcloth is still there. They’ve tidied up in general but the washcloth is still on their floor. I’m convinced my daughter and son both think it’s not theirs and are just leaving it. That or they’re afraid of picking it up. Either way, it’s still there.”

As of about a week ago, the parents reported that the rag had been moved from the bathroom floor to their daughter’s bedroom floor, right next to her laundry hamper (typical). She hadn’t said anything about the note, though, so the end of this story is still TBD.