‘My kid didn’t feel like doing chores so I cancelled her playdate’
“It’s not OK for kids to do whatever the hell they want… I won’t let my daughter eat me alive,” the strict mum reveals.
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When it comes to parenting, Ruth isn’t a pushover.
She believes firmly that everyone in the family should contribute to the household, whether it’s through chores, caring for belongings or simply showing respect.
The Mexican-American mum shared an example on TikTok, where she posts as @lifewithruthandjordan.
“Emma thought it was OK to tell me she didn’t feel like folding her clothes before going out to play with her little friends,” Ruth captioned the video.
Ruth’s response was swift and firm.
“Well, I cancelled the playdate until tomorrow,” she said.
“It’s not OK for your kids to do whatever the hell they want,” she continued.
“They’ll eat you alive as teens if they don’t comprehend that they need to contribute to household chores, more so when it’s their clothes.”
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Mum cancels playdate because daughter doesn't do chores
It looks like Ruth won the battle. In the video Emma could be seen folding her laundry on the lounge. The nine-year-old was clearly unhappy, but she was doing what her mum asked.
The viral post has a million views and over 140,000 comments. It divided the internet, with some saying that since Emma had done her chores in the end, she should have been allowed to play, while others disagreed completely with Ruth’s strict approach.
Some wondered how an adult would react to the choice of doing laundry over going out with friends.
“Yeah OK, but if you had an exciting day planned and realised you hadn’t folded the laundry, would you cancel your day for it, or just enjoy your day?” one person asked.
“Parent however you want, but filming your child afterwards for the whole internet is so strange,” said a second person.
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TikTok supports strict mum
But not everyone thought Ruth was in the wrong.
“Also Latina. This helped me take care of my space and my own things such as my clothes, room, etc. I’m super glad my mum did this,” said one person.
“Yep! This just freaking shapes you,” Ruth replied. “So scary to have so many negative comments about this. The world we live in.”
“Great job mama! Do as you’re told, responsibility, then you get to have your fun,” said another person.
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In another video, Ruth shared footage of two of her daughters sorting laundry. “These girls have been grounded for the past few days,” she captioned the video. “I took away 100 percent of screen time. No candy or dessert. No wants, just needs. Not having TV has brought them together, and there’s less fighting.
“If you have whiny kids or kids who don’t think twice about consequences, give them tough love,” Ruth advised.
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