Chore Wars

In the latest issue of Macworld magazine, I learned about Chore Wars, a way to encourage willing participation in performing household chores. Soon after reading about it, I logged on to the website and began creating "adventures" (i.e. "making your bed," "washing the dishes" etc.). I even created the possibility of finding treasure or facing monsters of various strengths.

From the start, the kids eagerly dove into the same chores that before we sometimes had to twist their arms to get them to do. Ethan and Megan have both progressed from a mere peasant to a level 2 ranger. Who knows where they'll stop.

One of the "adventures" I created is called "Preparing a meal." This is the one that kind of backfired on me last night. Christy and I left the kids at home for an hour or two yesterday evening to do some grocery shopping (visiting 2-3 stores to get all that we needed). It's good for 40 gold pieces.

While we were gone, our closet restaurateurs came out and prepared a full meal for us to enjoy upon our return. It was even candlelit, quite romantic. ; ) We started with a salad, prepared Japanese style right in front of our eyes by the great chef Ethan. We were left alone in the dimly lit restaurant (Ethan and Megan's room) to enjoy quiet conversation (interrupted only occasionally by the lovely waitress Megan). The main course came next and what followed is pictured here. Ethan, being the great showman he is, decided he needed to spice up the evening a little and attempted a knife flipping trick like something you'd see at Benihana (not something I would condone or even knew was going to happen). In the low light, he didn't catch the knife and its heavy handle landed in the candle, spraying hot wax droplets everywhere. I say everywhere, but I think the majority of them landed on me. You may have to click on the picture to see a bigger version of it to really see the red spots all over me, including on my head.

We finished the meal with a nice plate of strawberries and chocolate. Delicious! The evening was great fun in spite of the accident, and the kids got their 40 gold pieces.

Patrick