Mom asked sassy 8-year-old for help taking out the trash — she responded by handing her a handwritten 'schedule' of her non-availability
It’s never too early to introduce kids to the concept of chores and errands. Even the little that they observe and try to do can help them as they grow. A mom who goes by @ms.wimsey on Instagram Threads had a similar plan in mind for her 8-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, the kid was not on board with the plan, per Newsweek. However, what’s catching the attention of the internet is the way she declined her mom’s request. Her reason, along with crafty proof, has to be a hysterically creative one that people are really stunned by.
The mom mentioned that she had asked her 8-year-old to help with some chores. The girl immediately declined but indirectly, with a reason that no one expected. “Let me check my schedule,” she remarked. Quite brave of a little one, you’d say. What had even more color and aura was her schedule. No, this girl was not joking when she said she’d check; she was well-prepared and had a handwritten itinerary to prove to her mom that she really didn’t have the time. Except, this was one of the sassiest schedules ever written. Titled “Secule” [sic], the girl put down random timelines.
One read 8.00, another 4.50, yet another 3.00. Several slots mentioned 5.00. The schedule was indeed packed. Coming to the sassy part —the reason. Lined up against each timeline was the reason, “Nope.” The 8-year-old cleverly just put down a “Nope” throughout her day and told her mom that she just couldn’t help. In a follow-up thread, the woman mentioned that she “asked her what her plans are at 5 and she raised an eyebrow and said, ‘It’s top secret.’” Nothing could have prepared the mom for the way she received the rejection. While the idea was genius, kids need to be exposed to the habit of chores so they understand responsibility.
According to University Hospitals, children can be introduced to these chores at an early age. Elizabeth Harris, PhD, a child and adolescent psychologist at University Hospitals, explained, “Chores aren’t just about keeping a clean home. They help children build confidence, empathy, emotional regulation and executive functioning. These are skills that serve them well, far into adulthood.” She added that kids can start simple chores as early as preschool. “Younger children love to feel capable. Cleaning up toys or wiping down and setting the table, simple tasks like these, foster autonomy,” Harris noted.
That being said, the 8-year-old used a brilliant sense of wit to come up with the reason, which was also appreciated by the internet. Many agreed that this humor would be great to use in their work lives. A “Nope’ filled schedule would be a dream come true instead of their packed meetings and agendas. @bestbrittever wrote, “Baby girl is on to something. Scheduling nopes all 2026.” @thebridgettepatterson added, “Love her! She’s learning how to protect her peace at a young age.” @mikethegreat remarked, “Is she available to help me organize the pending meeting requests I have?” @gracelampwellness added, “I need to learn some more nope boundaries too. I love it.”
You can follow @ms.wimsy on Instagram Threads for more content on parenting and family.
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