The kids cleaned up the house while I was asleep

[TrogL]

More needs doing, but they put a huge dent in it.

• the kitchen is clean (floor needs doing)
  
• the living room is picked up (needs vacuuming)
  
• the coffee table is cleaned off (where's all the stuff??)
  
• their computer games are all put away
  
• the front hallway is organized (need to clean out of the bottom of the closet)
  

What should I do for them that doesn't cost a lot of money? How can I get them to help finish the job?

[cally]

1. Write them each a letter about how much you love

and admire them. There is nothing I want from my parents more. I'm glad they helped you.

[put out]

4. That is a lovely idea.

Those children must be peaches, sweetpeas, darlings, the tops, the most, the cherry on top of life. This was a selfless thing they did. Positive strokes are in order, in my opinion.

A letter or note, personal to each child, will be cherished.

[ET Awful]

2. You can send them on a nice vaction to my house . . .

where they will get the pleasure of doing the same thing again. . . only for ME this time :)

[Flaxbee]

3. Yes, the written reinforcement is nice...

it doens't nec. have to be a long letter, I don't think, but -- depending on how old they are -- just a short note or card and, depending on funds, lunch or breakfast at a favorite place? Early meals are usually much less expensive, and sometimes places like that'll bring a cupcake with a candle on it or whatever. Give them "lunch with a wish" (the candle) or something.

Anything out-of-the ordinary with an acknowledgement of how neat it was for them to help is great. Positive reinforcement, with all creatures, works wonders.

And to get them to finish the cleaning, just say that it looks terrific and there are one or two more things to do, that a lot of people don't necessarily notice floors but ... blah blah blah. Whip out the vaccuum and mop, put on music and power thru it in 10 minutes.