How to get your brother to do your work

Well, the thing about brothers is, they generally do the work - they are ready to work. So it really shouldn't be a task to get them to do your tasks. But every once in a while that worm of realisation creeps in making them feel that they're being used.

Lizzie McGuire and Matt McGuire (Source: Google.com)

Here are a few tips on how to keep your brother in your hands and wrapped around your orders. *Yells at brother to get a glass of water*

1. Guilt Works. 

Make your brother feel guilty - about random small stuff. If they're young they'll get cranky (and that might be a small effort, but its worth it). Make him feel bad about something he might have done (not having done homework / eaten too many chocolates / bunking classes / fights with another person, anything). Now this isn't a deal or a swap its guilt-ing. Its about making him feel bad to do your work. Guilty. Not covered. Let the offering come from him - don't bend easy.

2. The Potency of Impotency.

Nobody wants to feel incompetent or incapable. (and here I'm not telling you to talk your brother about making babies or sperm.) Its about making him feel unable to do something which you know he can. This works best with the younger kids, cause the older they get the harder they get to crack and they're more confident. But the younger ones are so malleable - its an easy and old trick. They'll do it just to prove you wrong and they'll feel good about it. But you know who's the actual winner. It's a win-win!

3. Cover the work.

This is simple and an ol'faithful. No kid is coming home absolutely shameless. Dig in, keep the secret in; return for a favour. Safety has a price.

4. Swap.

Give and take. While cover the work is easier and less tasking this would simply mean exchange. Do something the brother can't. From reaching the high cookie jar if he's tiny, to completing math homework it all counts. I give my brother 10 minutes playing time on my phone every time he opens the car door for me.

5. Tom Sawyer-it.

Pretend what you're doing is cool and exclusive and then hand it over! Simple and fun (you even get to act like you like your work). Might be difficult with the older brothers.

6. Every Dog has his day.

Now this works by being extra nice. Unlike the others where you can play the meanie - you have to be nice and sweet and giving to get your work done. Asking politely, specially when a kid's had a bad day or scolding cracks them up. And its a nice thing to do.

These are some of the most useful and time tested ways to get your work done. Plus its fun. Go crazy working his ass off now!

P.S. I would advice against stuff like beating him up or yelling at him, cause its just horrid and karma comes back and one day he's going to be big and strong and then you'll probably just have to run (which he might be better at)