https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:03:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270247 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 05:51:45 +0000 lamariniere 2270247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH does tech support. I used to clean my dad's entire house because he is a messy pack rat and I am an ocd neat freak. But I stopped doing it when we had kids because I don't want to waste my visit cleaning and I don't think he really appreciates it and certainly doesn't maintain it. So now I just pack up a few bags for goodwill and drop them off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270246 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 05:38:44 +0000 MamaB 2270246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom tends to hoard stuff in her fridge, so I always pull everything out and throw away everything that's past its expiration date. I do it every time we visit 1-2 times/year, and I don't understand how she keeps having salad dressings that expired in 2012. Maybe I should clean out her pantry. </p> <p>Also, she never asks DH to do anything, but then after we leave she complains about all this stuff she needs done (like changing the flood lights), and when I ask why she didn't ask him to do it she rambles on about how she wanted us to enjoy our visit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270074 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:59:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2270074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tech help. All the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270060 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:17:52 +0000 FannyMae 2270060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My jobs are usually bill payments/telephone calls/running errands for her - she looks after LO while I do the leg work and sneak off for some shopping/coffee while I'm at it :D</p> <p>hubby/brother help her out with odd jobs that need fixing around the house that involve power tools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270057 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:15:04 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2270057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: @Pancakes: Same here, my mom is SO neat, she has to not look in our room and tolerate some of LO's mess when we visit them. We just try to clean up after ourselves and wash dishes when they're at work (which are mostly ours anyway.) We'll pick up stuff they need or do other small tasks but that's really it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270054 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:10:27 +0000 Finfan 2270054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH will fix things for my mom around the house or put stuff in the attic for her. He almost always gets drafted into doing some work on her car. She does tons of things for us too so it's a reciprocal relationship. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270048 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:55:36 +0000 simplyfelicity 2270048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went to my mom's and taught her how to use her phone and DH always gets asked to move stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2270045 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:48:59 +0000 YouGotMe 2270045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dad is on disability now so every time they need something heavy moved they call my brother who lives in town and he often just sends one of his minions over to help. </p> <p>DH and I get to help with electronics but that's it. I know not to try and help or my mom will just redo it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269795 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:59:47 +0000 Truth Bombs 2269795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: When my dad comes to visit us I think h says a little prayer hoping there will be a trip to Home Depot and a project to complete with my husband. He loves helping with house stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269785 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:51:52 +0000 yoursilverlining 2269785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am phone tech-support for my parents and my MLIL. They all just got their first smartphones and omg, there have been a lot of questions! </p> <p>But, it evens out because neither my husband nor I are handy, so we’re always calling them for advice (there’s water dripping from a light in the kitchen, what should we do?!) or asking my dad to come over help us fix something. I think my dad not-so-secretly likes it though!</p> <p>I also almost always do the dishes when we go over to eat at parents/in-laws place. But none of them ask or expect me to do it, I just do it because I think I should! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269774 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:41:41 +0000 dagret 2269774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I help cook and clean up and stuff but they have a cleaning lady and my mom is a neat freak so there's not much to do. She makes me go back to bed after the kids get up - she watches them so I can sleep in for once. I'm not arguing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269753 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:24:32 +0000 JenGirl 2269753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since my dad had his knees replaced, my husband and I now change the furnace filter every time we go visit because you have to climb onto a chair to do it. It takes 2 minutes, so we don't mind. While he was recovering from surgery we did a lot of work around the yard (mowing and trimming) because my dad couldn't but that was temporary. Otherwise we just generally help out with whatever they're doing. When they have big parties we help get everything set up, but if we're just hanging out for the weekend, then we don't usually do much. And my parents always send us home with food, so it's well worth it!</p> <p>My grandmother, on the other hand, always has some electronic thing she needs help with. Some things I've just completely taken over because it's easier to do it myself than constantly show her how (like I pay our cell phone bill and buy all her Kindle books). Other things I may or may not be able to fix. And I'm the executrix of her estate and so I feel like she has updates or new things she wants to talk about every time that I see her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269736 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:16:04 +0000 travellingbee 2269736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: me too. My dad is always helping us with something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269726 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:11:14 +0000 Pancakes 2269726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: This sounds like my parents! </p> <p>My mom is a control freak, so she probably wouldn't appreciate any help as I would undoubtedly do it "wrong." I sometimes wash dishes if we've had a big meal but that's about it. My parents are pretty young though (mid 50s) so I wonder if that has anything to do with them not needing help? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269719 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:06:53 +0000 Mae 2269719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Total opposite here. My parents are in shape and on top of their shit so they never need anything when we visit them. But every time they come see us there are projects! My dad is super handy and I swear he looks for things to do. Even if I tell him we don't need anything he still brings his tools and finds something to fix lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269714 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:04:38 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2269714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cook every time I go over (at least once a week), and J gets asked to do things like assemble furniture, move things, and BBQ. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269704 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:55:47 +0000 sunny 2269704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vacuum the stairs way more thoroughly than my dad ever does! DH helps them with anything that requires height. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269700 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:54:14 +0000 snowjewelz 2269700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is handy so he usually takes a look at random things for them, or gives opinion on it. Other than that, we don't really have to do anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269697 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:50:27 +0000 LovelyPlum 2269697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time I brought DH to my parents' house to meet them, a 100 year old oak tree had just fallen in their yard. He was tasked with helping to split logs and move wood. Some intro, huh? :silly: </p> <p>In the fall, everyone helps rake the leaves, because there are a lot of them. And my mom will ask me to help with my grandma's laundry. But it's my poor BIL who lives in town that gets stuck with all the hard stuff. He's an electrician and good with fixing up household things. He gets put to work a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269695 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:46:18 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2269695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>haha this is a funny thread! My MIL always has chores for my SO to do. My parents not so much, although since they are in the process of selling their home, they definitely had heavy things they wanted help moving. To clarify, not from me, from DH! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269693 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:43:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2269693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put a stop to the chore list early on with my mom and my husband- then fiance. Some of her requests would take up the entire visit and require him to work through all of the ins &amp; outs of how to get it done. She's one of those and-another-thing type of people.</p> <p>When I come over she has me try to fix her technology stuff- printer, her phone etc. I'm not at all that good with those things either. Most often she requests a facial from me and help styling her outfits for upcoming events. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269688 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:38:25 +0000 autumnlove 2269688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Camera and computer support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269685 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:37:26 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2269685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom always asks DH and I to help move heavy stuff (but she helps too) because my dad can't really do it any more. DH does a lot of technical computer stuff. Other than that, it's just the normal help cooking and cleaning type stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269674 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:31:18 +0000 csross217 2269674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mother lives alone, so she stockpiles all kinds of chores for my hubby to do when we come over! Usually it's things like carrying something heavy up from the basement or moving furniture around. I always help with any phone/computer/tv issues. I don't mind, but DH gets annoyed with it occasionally... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269653 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:24:07 +0000 pui 2269653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is usually tasked with fixing the internet or a computer or two. I don't seem to get any special jobs at either of our parents homes lol. I'll help cook dinner or clean up after meals and such but that just seems like normal guest stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chores-when-you-visit-your-parents#post-2269647 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:18:12 +0000 Truth Bombs 2269647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MrBee started a thread about helping out his parents with their computers. We don't do this as my dad is a computer guy. But, we get other odd jobs when we are home! My husband is always in charge of moving heavy objects, I swear my mother spends time looking for things for him to move. He doesn't mind a bit but it cracks me up. I'm usually in charge of teaching mother about facebook and instagram (AGAIN!) every time we visit.</p> <p>What are you typical things you can expect your parents to have you do when you visit? </p>