Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Carolyn: My stay-at-home-dad husband has decided our 16-year-old son should be doing more at home. I agree. The problem I foresee is that my husband does very little around the house. I am not exaggerating; he regularly takes our daughter to and from school and the two cars in for regular maintenance. Anything else is irregular, and done only when he feels like it or there is no other alternative, like when I’m away for work. If I’m being generous, I’d say he does 20 percent of what needs doing around here.

This is its own issue, but I know that as soon as Dad asks Son to do X and Y, when X and Y are more than Dad does in a couple of weeks, Son is going to rebel. Son can legitimately claim that he also has school and homework, on top of X and Y, while Dad does not.

I have suggested to my husband that Son will be far more cooperative if Son sees that Dad is also contributing. Dad huffed that I don’t appreciate what he does (I wish I had more to appreciate!) and that Son should just do what he is told to do, end of story. I do not see a good way to handle this and I’m dreading the fights that I know are coming.

HOUSEWORK, HUSBANDS AND TEENS

“OK, maybe I wasn’t being fair about what you do around the house. But kids notice this stuff like it’s their job, so before we give Son more responsibilities, let’s at least be clear about ours.”

Then, as an exercise in child-rearing, you and your husband list what needs to be done around the house, figure out who currently does what — putting in black and white your main concern here, about how little your husband actually does — and re-allocate those chores as needed to you, your husband, your son and your daughter. Also, let the kids choose the way they contribute, or have it assigned to them. Deal?

And if/when your son notices his workload is harder than his dad’s, then suggest he take it up with this father directly. It’s not your job to mediate their differences.

Email tellme@washpost.com. Chat online at 10 a.m. Fridays at www.washingtonpost.com.