Sunday, 19 July 2009

• Tips on Housework with Kids

   by Mama Seahorse

  
  
  image source

  I recently read THIS POST and was reminded of a couple of the things I like to involve the kids with when it comes to housework.

  My mother was OCD about alot of things, including the layout of the silverware drawer, the location of food items in the pantry, how a bed is made (military-style with hospital corners), AND folding laundry.  "There is a right way and a wrong way to do everything!" she was known for saying, "And my way is the right way!" 

  So when things like that are ingrained into your brain, you find yourself following those familiar pathways when you get older.  Not that I expect military-beds from my kids at all, but I had to fold all the laundry myself, because nobody else knows how to fold it.  As our family grew, so did the laundry.  And I finally realized that the endless mounds of laundry were too much for one person.  I know what you are thinking, what about your husband?  Excuse me while I laugh a hearty laugh...  If I waited for him to do the laundry, we'd all be digging into the dirty bins just to find underwear...  He's involved in alot of things, but that's just not one of his strongest areas.

  So finally someone gave me a great idea:  separate laundry baskets for each family member.   I went to Target and got five $2 large rectangular laundry baskets and used my labeler to slap names on them; one for me and the baby, and one each for hubby, Big Brother, and Middle Man.  (an extra one for household items like towels and pillow cases, etc)  I lined them up on the long counter in our laundry room opposite the washer and dryer, and voila!  My laundry load just got lighter!

  Laundry comes right out of the dryer and is sorted according to owner into the baskets.  That owner is then expected to take the basket, fold the clothes, and put them away, returning the basket to the laundry room with dirty clothes from their hamper (placing it on the floor so it isn't confused for clean clothes).  Its a great little system, and I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed taking their baskets and folding their own clothes.  Of course, Hubby's basket is always overflowing and is rarely ever folded OR put away - but he wears wrinkled clothes and doesn't care.  And now, it doesn't have to be on my list of things to worry about!

  Now... after having implemented this system successfully for several months, my family came to visit me, including my aunt, uncle, grandfather, and mother.  They got the tour of our home, and saw all the baskets lined up, and so I explained it to them.  My mother, just at the moment when my aunt had finished saying what a great idea that was, pipes up, "But do they fold the clothes the RIGHT way??"  She stared holes into me.  I stared back, lips pressed together.  I didn't want to get into an argument with her.  I turned to my aunt, partially answering my mom's question and partially acting as though I was just adding a comment to what I had already said,

  "The thing is, in order for this to work and for me to have less work to do, I had to let go of being particular about how the clothes are folded.  Letting go of small things helps me to focus on the bigger things."

  My aunt nodded fully understanding what I was saying to all present.  My mother, however, snorted, folded her arms in front of her very ceremoniously, spun on her heel and walked away.  She disapproved.  But hey, I wasn't spending hours folding laundry anymore, so I don't give a damn what she thinks! 

  Since then I've had the kids help with vaccuuming, dusting, dishes, and more.  And its always their job to pick up the floors (which are usually cluttered with their toys anyway).  In all of these jobs, I have to let go of the "right way" and just allow them to do it.  Not only does it help me, it also gives them a sense of being part of the family and part of what helps us to continue in our home life. 

  That's what I call a win-win situation. 

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