A chore list from a Philadelphia household in the early 90s has been praised by users on social media.
The list, posted on Threads by Carl Randolph Jr., (@fatcarl_sp) lays out daily, weekly and monthly expectations that began when he was just 8 years old.
His father, Carl Randolph Sr. wrote instructions for making the bed, completing homework, doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, vacuuming, wiping down furniture, and even washing down the exterior of the house with a hose, weather permitting. “My dad sent me my chore list from when I was a kid,” Randolph wrote in his post. “This s*** started at 8 years old…my pop was the coolest man on earth but he had hella structure & rules in the house.”
It was just the two of them growing up, and while the house was full of laughter and bonding, there was little room for excuses.
Now 34, Carl Jr. told Newsweek that the list never felt overwhelming. “I remember this being actually quite easy,” he said. “It was just routine; what me and my dad did.” Seeing the list again decades later felt nostalgic, he added.
View on Threads
Before school, Carl Jr. was expected to make his bed, eat breakfast, check homework for “neatness and completeness” and be out the door before 6:50 a.m. In the comments, he clarified that his father was in the Navy.
Dishes could not be left in the sink. Trash had to be taken out and liners replaced. Even leisure time was conditional—earned once obligations were met. The tone is firm but not punitive, focused less on control and more on preparation.
“We had fun doing these duties, but he didn’t play about getting business done or breaking rules,” Carl Jr. said.
His post has gone viral on Threads, clocking up more than 1.5 million views and almost 40,000 likes and shares. In the comments, many users praised Carl Sr. for setting clear expectations without crossing into excess.
“Though this is strict, it’s all reasonable,” one user said. “There’s no ridiculous expectations, just a good dad who wants to instill self-discipline into his children.”
“Your dad set you up for success! This is dope! Proceeds to take notes,” another added.
One user shared that her mother had done everything for her growing up, leaving her overwhelmed as an adult when she had to manage life’s basic responsibilities for the first time. Teaching children that chores are simply part of life, she wrote, is a gift, not a burden.
Carl Jr. has taken the attention in stride. When one user asked if he still follows the same cleaning regimen today, his answer was candid and self-aware: not at all. He now has a cleaning lady.