A mother-of-three who forced her teenage children to sign a ‘cleaning contract’ says her method has made her kids ‘more’ responsible’.
Frustrated Katrina Neathey, 36, from Horsham, West Sussex, fines her £5 kids for breaking rules such as failing to make their beds, consuming fizzy drinks in their rooms or leaving litter on their bedroom floor.
She appeared on This Morning today where she admitted that she’s ‘really surprised’ her cleaning contracts have worked, but insisted her fines have taught her teens to ‘look after themselves’.
Viewers said they would ‘definitely’ consider doing the same thing and praised the mother, who they said were teaching the children essential life skills they’ll need when they eventually leave home.
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Katrina Neathey, 36, from Horsham, West Sussex, has told how she became so fed-up with her messy teens, she forced them to sign a ‘cleaning contract.’ Pictured, Josh, Olivia, Hayden with mum Katrina
She appeared on This Morning today where she admitted that she’s ‘really surprise’ her cleaning contracts worked and taught her teens ‘responsibility’
The mother said: ‘It has worked yeah, I’m actually really surprised.
‘I’ve said I’m really proud of them because it proves they can look after themselves and be responsible.’
Although she’s only pocketed £20 so far, Katrina explained that the money from the fines is ‘going on something together as a family.’
Viewers loved the ‘brilliant’ idea and quickly took to Twitter praising the mother for teaching her children ‘responsibility’.
One wrote: ‘I think it’s brilliant, teaches them responsibility to look after themselves etc. Also when they go to university they will know what to do.
Viewers loved the ‘brilliant’ idea and quickly took to Twitter praising the mother for teaching her children ‘responsibility’
‘So many slobs at my uni as their parents did everything. Put them in an independent situation and they don’t have a clue.
Another agreed: ‘Definitely! My boys are 10-years-old. They’ve been learning to be responsible and organised since age 8.
‘They learn good habits before becoming teenagers, I didn’t want the aggro in their later years. If they don’t tidy up I keep them from playing online, which they don’t want.’
Katrina had spent the last two decades cleaning up after her kids – and is a cleaner by trade. But the mum-of-three was at the end of her tether when she found mud on her new £1,200 carpet, within a few weeks of a complete upstairs refurbishment.
Kids Hayden, 19, Joshua, 18, and Olivia, 13, appeared on the show with their mum where they insisted that they’re all ‘fine’ about the contracts
The eldest pair agreed they will get fined £5 per rule break – while Olivia has her phone taken away for a day per infringement
She called kids Hayden, 19, Joshua, 18, and Olivia, 13, to the dining table and presented them with tailor-made contracts to sign.
The eldest pair agreed they will get fined £5 per rule break – while Olivia has her phone taken away for a day per infringement.
‘My kids are all teenagers so in my eyes they are all capable of keeping to simple rules,’ previously said Katrina, who runs a cleaning business with her twin sister Natalie.
‘I tried to set up some basic ground rules after we did up the bedrooms, but after a few days they were falling back into old habits.
Olivia’s contract (pictured) includes everything from no makeup in the bedroom, making the bed and keeping her room tidy
Katrina (pictured) explained the children used to be good when they were younger, but the mess started to creep in when she began working longer hours
‘They’d hide dirty clothes or plates at the back of their wardrobe when I told them to tidy up. It’s as if they forget I’m a cleaner. I know exactly where to find things.’
Not all viewers were convinced by the method, with one branding the method a ‘bit harsh’ while another said the mum shouldn’t ‘expect her children to be a cleaner’.
One said: ‘I think the no make-up in the room rule is a bit harsh! Each to their own i guess!’
The cleaner revealed her children were given contracts demanding they put all plates in the dishwasher, only drink water in their bedrooms and put dirty washing in the laundry basket. Pictured, confiscating Olivia’s phone
When Katrina first mentioned the cleaning contract to her children, she said they thought it was ‘hilarious.’ Pictured, Josh, Olivia, Hayden
Another agreed: ‘Absolutely not… ask them to help lend a hand… don’t expect them to be a cleaner!’
‘It might sound heavy but I just think it’s time they learn the hard way,’ explaind Katrina, who runs Instagram page with her twin sister Twinklecleaningduo.
She went on: ‘The worst was when I found a used chopping board in the wardrobe. I’ve also found other things like forks, bowls and milk bottles left to go off, all tucked away somewhere in the hope I wouldn’t find it.
Not all viewers were convinced by the method, with one branding the method a ‘bit harsh’ while another said the mum shouldn’t ‘expect her children to be a cleaner’
‘Pizza boxes were great as they kindly left the crumbs for me to follow them. To be honest the only one benefiting from their hidden gem was the dog.’
She said Josh, a carpenter apprentice, has had three fines so far – all in one day for two food wrappers hidden in a shoebox and down the side of his bed, and clothes thrown into his wardrobe.
‘Part of growing up is learning to respect property and those you look after you. And I think the contract will help do that’, said the mother.
‘I’ve spent years cleaning up after them. Since I’ve introduced them it’s been great. I’m really pleased with how it’s going and it’s making my life so much easier.’