Why do I think this?
I really believe how your kids are ordered makes a HUGE difference in how you parent. Having 2 boys first.....they are great and all....but not real helpful in the "helpful" department, at least with housework.
Am I not a good "trainer?" I supposed one could put that out there.
However, I think if I had 2 girls first...or even 3, it would be a whole different ball game in this house.
I don't even have to ask Regan to put do things (often) she just does them. I started a whole routine, job thing. She is the only kid who actually does what she is supposed to do without reminders. Maybe if money were involved I would get different results, I suppose I should ponder this.
So.....what are some things I have done to help myself out? Well.....my boys do not get off, they do have jobs, chores, expectations.....whatever. But, I have also created shortcuts for myself......and I'm going to share them.
I am all about easier. Enjoying my kids, enjoying life, and not stressing over things that don't really matter in the long run.
So today......my favorite.....laundry......(cough, cough!!!)
Every person in our house has his or her own hamper. I wash everyone's laundry separate. Since I have started doing this it is SO much easier to do laundry. Regan and Mitchell fold and put away their own laundry. I fold Jack's laundry and he puts it away. I fold and put away Mason's and the little girl's laundry. Quinn is actually starting to put her own laundry in her drawers once I fold it. Ron folds and puts away his own laundry.
I have done laundry lots of different ways. I have found it is easier to just figure out what works with each child and go with it rather than imposing something that doesn't work. I have tried to force all kids to do all things. I just end up frustrated and yelling. It's really irritating to find loads of clean clothes in the hamper. Or on the floor. Eventually the kid will move out....the the laundry will be the child's issue. Right now it is my issue and I want EASY. If it means I take 5 minutes to stick it in drawers....ok (hence one child getting out of laundry duty. He has other strengths.)
Sheets I wash all together. In the summer I hang them out to dry. The kids just have fitted sheets, no flat sheets. This was advice from a mom of another large family in our church. One of the "great" pieces of advice I've gotten.
Towels....kitchen towels daily. Bath towels every 2 or 3 days. The kids all had specific "colors" before we got Quinn. Now it's a free for all. If it's in the bathroom and dry it is yours. I think the older kids are taking their towels to hooks in their bedrooms now. Which is fine with me. I did that as a teen as well. I don't have time to deal with towel wars. I just don't want wet towels on the floor...other than that....don't care!
I have a toploader large capacity washer. So I try to wash sweatshirts and smaller things with towels so the load isn't terribly heavy. And I wash towels A LOT.
I make the kids put away the towels and sheets. My linen closet looks like a bomb went off in it....but....I did not put the things away....so I'm fine with it. I want the kids to help and if they are doing the job then I am not complaining. I'm a mom not a drill Sargent. I am not of the belief things must be done perfectly, I am of the belief they should be done to the best of your ability....and you will improve with practice.
One thing I saw on a blog a few years ago was a "bucket" for socks. I have done that with the boys. It is really helpful. I actually have a drawer of just socks for the little girls, too. But with the boys I just throw theirs socks in a big bucket I got from Target. The bucket sits between their dressers. It is so much easier than jamming socks into a drawer. And I NEVER match socks. EVER. They can take time to look for socks....I'm good with that!
I do not make anyone wash the laundry. With as much laundry as we do I'm a bit of a freak with the machine. It has to be loaded a certain way or it gets off because of the kind of washer it is. So I just do it. I'm good with that :)
That's this large family's organization!
2 comments:
Thank you! So many helpful tips. I don't know why I even bother with the flat sheet for the kids....no more of those! And a sock bucket is brilliant. I have given up folding my kids clothes. I just dump all their dry clothes back into their laundry baskets. Then they put their clothes away. Their clothes never stayed folded anyway. (They do however hang all the shirts they wear to school)
hi bridget!!! i couldn't find an email for you...and this is the only place i could get a message to you.
THANK YOU for your sweet comment on my blog! that meant the WORLD to me. i've had very little encouragement in this whole homeschooling thing...and didn't realize it until you gave me some! THANK YOU!!
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