So if you're not up to date on my situation. last weekend SS7 had called saying he hates coming here and is mom siad she not going to send him if he doens't want to come. So DH all week (SS is on winter break) I asked DH call see if we can get him for some of the holidays. DH was like I don't want to fight with BM. if SS doens't want to come thats fine. I'm like whatever. So last night DH calls BM, and asked to pick up SS tongith at 6 (court ordered vistiation) she says only if he wants to. So DH beggs to talk to SS on the phone and beggs him to come over. I'm just like this is ridiuculus! So supposeable he doens't want to come over cuz he has to do chores, and watch his sister, and can't watch what he wants on TV. Ok, we ask SS7 "keep and eye on your sister while I go to the bathroom, check the roast, get the mail, etc...) Really quick short things, maybe like one or two times a day. He also has home reading to do every day, so if DD is in a good mood, then we will get SS to read to her, then show her the pictures, and explain the story to her. We might to this once a week. Once I asked him if he would watch her while I cleaned the bathroom. Which is right down the hall, and it took me 10 mins, and I came out and to check on them every couple mins. And I paid him $5. Is that so wrong? And I think by 7 he should be able to do certain chores. he has to dry the dishes two nights (he's here for 3), sweep the floor, and take the clothes out of the drier. Plus clean his room everynight before bed, and make his bed in the morning. Is this too much for the average 7 year old? I'm not changing my TV rules in my house. Who would let their 7 year old watch family guy, trailer park boys, Robot chicken, his fav movie is jackass and stuff like that. Well BM thats who. Like oh my god! garbage in garbage out! But in my house, we watched treehouse, YTV, and then I subscrbed to the discovery kids channel. I think that's good stuff for kids.