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When do you do housework?

This topic has 30 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 7 months ago by dmccall3.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 31 total)

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July 26, 2011 at 11:45 am
dmccall3
Participant
Hi everyone!
When do you do your housework? Do you do it all in one day or spread it into chunks throughout the week? Do you do it while with the kids or after they go to bed, during nap/quiet time?
I really despise saying to my DS3, “I can’t. I’m busy.” But maybe that’s okay? I feel neglectful.
And do you have yours as young as 3 help with housework STRICTLY? If my DS wants to help (and he does like that a lot) I include him but if he decides to stop and do something else I let him. I guess I like to see his joy in doing it and I’m afraid making it a requirement would squash that.
I just don’t seem to have as much time as I’d like in any one area. I feel spread thin where I can’t keep on top of housework, spend as much time with my DH (one-on-one) as I’d like, as well as spending time and doing activities with my DS as much as we’d both like. Something always seems to fall off (usually housework :)). And we’re about to have a baby!!! Yikes-o…
Thanks!
Dana
July 26, 2011 at 12:22 pm
thehauserfamily
Member
I spread it out. I mean there is plenty of time for a perfect house and this is not that time in your life. I would sit with your hubby and get his top 1 or 2 most bothersome tings and then list yours. Make sure to get those done as much as possible and take it a litte easier on the rest. For example the rest of the house can be perfect but if the floor needs swept/mopped/vacuumed my hubby will say the house is dirty. He can handle a little clutter on the counter or the bed unmade. I on the other feel if there is clutter then the house is a mess. I do my best to concentrate on those two things. It helps to keep everything organized including closets and drawers.
Keep a basket or bucket around and if something is out of place throw it in there and then have you son help you put it away before bed. My kids love that. For the younger ones I say where does this go? Then they run off to put it away. Even my 20 month old twins can do some things.
My kids help to what their ability is, but some of it I do myself. When you really have to get something done there is no problem having them play alone for a while. Set the timer and put the cleaning down when it goes off. Then set the timer and play a while. Put him close to you, at the table with some colors or “special” toys he only gets when you really need to do something like dishes. He doesn’t need to do it strictly right now, but if you have him help you and make it fun then he will do it when he is older without fuss. My oldest is known to pass my room and see laundry on the bed and go in and fold it without me asking. He likes to see my face when it is done and I ask who did it and thank him for helping wthout me asking. He is 8.
I would take the time now to get a system down and set aside some special toys. They don’t have to be new just some from the toy bin for only special times. Once the baby is here you can use those toys for that time too when you need to take care of the baby. One or two small bins with a few toys each should do. Keep a spare diaper and teddy bear around so he can change and feed his baby too.
Afer the kids are in bed I am tired, but that is my time with hubby. I rarely do more than dinner dishes after the kids are in bed, and I have been known to leave them if I have to. Hubby will sometimes help or wait for me to be done or sometimes he will just say leave it. I put the dishes in the diswasher after each meal normally and start it before bed.
Maybe if you make a list each day of what cleaning has to be done that will help. List them in order of importance.
July 26, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Ladyofthehouse
Member
Wow, I really like Hauser family’s ideas and outlook. Thanks for sharing!
July 26, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Tristan
Participant
We do housework every day and the 5 older children help but not the crawling baby, so 10, 6, 5, 3, and 2 year old. We have morning chores, afternoon chores, and before bed chores. I never tell my children “I can’t, I’m busy”, but instead say, “Right now this work needs done, how about we do it together for fun?”.
Examples of the chores I no longer have to do because they are my children’s jobs (and the age of the children doing the job):
- Clean bedrooms, make beds (10 down to age 2, older helps younger with making bed)
- Cleaning bathrooms – counter, sink, floors, empty bathroom trash (10, 6, 5)
- Sweep with broom in Kitchen and dining room (10, or younger with hand vacuum)
- Load and unload dishwasher (10 down to 2, usually 2 children together)
- Pick up floors (all)
- Putting away laundry (all, buddied with little sibling)
I often help, we’ll do laundry together or I’ll work in the kitchen while they do dishes, but as they’ve learned how to do things I’ve been able to use my time in areas they aren’t ready for yet. For example, I do the cooking. My 10yo is learning, but I do the main cooking. I do the vacuuming because it has to be done well with a crawling baby ready to eat things off the floor. I wash and dry laundry because nobody can reach in our top loaders and because I enjoy it.
The house is not perfectly clean, but it can always be picked up to company ready in about 15 minutes of everyone working together. Many hands make light work!
July 26, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Bookworm
Participant
You mean we are supposed to do HOUSEWORK too?????
July 26, 2011 at 1:36 pm
RobinP
Participant
Hahaha! I was going to post, “When do we do what??”
July 26, 2011 at 3:00 pm
botanicalbecky
Member
LOL LOL!
July 26, 2011 at 3:00 pm
missingtheshire
Member
What is houseweork???? No seriously when the girls were little hubby and I decided that a messy house and happy kids was the important thing, so though we taught them to make beds and do the basics, the house was often untidy, not dirty – just not a show house. I often did housework in the evenings when hubby was studying or doing chores himself and the girls were in bed – I did laundry in the evening as in England it is cheaper to run loads at night. Now we all chip in together and get things done – however I will still put the family and time with them ahead of a pristine house – I have been lucky to have a hubby who does not mind that as he feels the same way. The children are only small once, and it is important to have time to enjoy it – housework will always be there, and as long as the house is clean and there is good food on the table from a nice cooked meal, the rest could always wait. Linda
July 26, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
We try to do a little each day. Some days we do more chores to try to catch up. I was using the chore chart from motivated moms, but I found that I have to stay on top of everything for me to be able to use the list. The kids should be able to help fold and hang up laundry. I think mine started at age 3 with folding wash clothes and small hand towels. At age 4 or 5, they could sort their own clothes and put on hangers. They pair up socks. I have a small red stick vac my young children can use in the kitchen and bathroom. They help dust and wipe down refrigerator and counters. Especially my dd likes to help me clean. I had to explain to ds that as a part of the family, he has to do chores with the family. I pay them with a stick of gum. It is the only time they get gum!
When ds was about 5 years old, we were at a church event and the kids were playing a game. For some reason, he was not interested in playing that game and he said, “I can’t. I’m busy.” That’s when I realised that my words needed to change. And maybe my attitude needed some change too. 🙂 lol.
July 26, 2011 at 4:05 pm
thepinkballerina
Participant
I cannot survive in an untidy house. Dusty, yes, untidy, NO! My brain cannot function if toys and books are everywhere, blankets and pillows scattered all over.
Ever since I read The Fly Lady’s website, I have had a schedule of specific chores on specific days because I don’t have 3 hrs at one time to devote to cleaning and laundry. Here is our schedule:
Sunday: wash sheets and towels, vacuum all carpets/rugs, mop tile/wood floors
Monday: laundry as needed
Tuesday: quick wipe down of all bathrooms
Wed: laundry as needed
Thursday: groceries; vacuum rugs/carpets and mop kitchen only
Friday: laundry as needed/ p.m. REST
Saturday: a.m. REST/ p.m. clean all bathrooms thoroughly including mopping floors/scour tubs

My dd’s help with dishes mostly at breakfast time. They help clean 1 bathroom 1x per week and take out bathroom trash. They tidy their rooms and make their beds. They pick up toys always before getting new toys out.

So with my schedule above it probably takes me an hour to do those specific things per day. I always wipe down the kitchen after washing dishes (by hand) and the kitchen table and the stove. More thoroughly at night. I drain dishes in the sink unless dd’s are helping then they dry and I put away.

The main chores are done usually in the afternoon/evening time because we devote the mornings to school and outside time. Sometimes I may squeeze in a chore or two if we can’t go out…

HMMM noticed I didn’t put in “dusting.” lol I dust when I FEEL it’s needed. lol Usually spring cleaning time!

Tara
July 26, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Lesley Letson
Participant
I have named my dust bunnies, they are my friends
July 26, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Titus2mama
Member
we have gone through the 31 days to a clean house and love it.

we also do chores in the morning before we start, a tidy before lunch, an afternoon tidy and a before bed tidy.

it helps to do a little bit each time rather than a huge cleaning once a week

motivated moms is another planner I LOVE
July 26, 2011 at 5:05 pm
dmccall3
Participant
Hmmm… Maybe I need a list, a plan. Oh how I love a list and a plan! Haha! We did just move to a new apartment and after we cleaned and unpacked there was this moment of clean, unlived-in home. And in that moment I thought maybe, just maybe, I could stay on top of it and keep it that way. Hahahaha… Yeah… Sigh.
So thanks for all the tips and hopefully I can get some sort of rhythm to life here (we also just moved to France) and get a balance to things. 🙂
Thanks a ton!
Dana
July 26, 2011 at 5:18 pm
joannarammell
Participant
I’ve been asking this question for a while now! And one more: When do you actually have time to schedule/plan anything? I seem to be able to do only one major thing at a time. Clean OR Cook OR School OR Child Training OR Planning, OR Think, etc. I multi task like a pro INSIDE of these categories and can combine cleaning and cooking pretty well if cooking isn’t too intensive…but some of you actually sound organized…in my dreams!
I have 4 children so far 7 and under–been working on including them in the work and making progress too. But, I feel like I am racing the clock to get organized in case the Lord blesses us with more.
jo
July 26, 2011 at 5:24 pm
houseofchaos
Participant
When do I do housework – seems like always, looks like never !! 🙂

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 31 total)

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