Never once have I claimed to be a perfect house keeper. In fact, I tell my friends that they are welcome to stop and see me any time they want, but If they want the house to be clean, then they need to make an appointment.
My mom, on the other hand, cleans her clean house every day. She dusts her dustless furniture and scrubs her scumless tubs. But it wasn't always that way. I remember as a kid, we had to find the table so we could eat dinner everyday. I also remember PILES of laundry- which you would expect with 6 kids and various extras.
So, where am I going with this?
There are certain things that are expected at our messy house. All the kids except Jonah wash, dry, fold or hang, and put away their own laundry. Jonah is expected to put his laundry away in the drawers or the closet. Most of them can (whether they do it or not) clean a bathroom from top to bottom. The easiest thing of all, I think, is that every one is expected to load their own dishes in the dishwasher. They can all empty the dishwasher, and can all put away the hand washed dishes.
So, when kids come over and they leave their dishes on the table, I call them back, smile sweetly, and tell them that I will not put their dishes in the dishwasher for them. They will, invariably, look at me like I am off my rocker, and take their dishes to the dishwasher. I tell you, with out fail, I find those dishes right side up, on top of other dishes, with the spoon or fork beside them on the top rack. Really?
Am I really that strange to think that a child of 5 years or older should be able to take their own dishes to the dishwasher and load them so I wont have to?
9 comments:
I refuse to clean up after people here. Then Uncle Chuck comes around and cleans up after them. It is sooooo frustrating!
I am just doing what I always did. It is just that there are not as many people in the house now. I cleaned every day when you were little too.
I do not remember the table being piled high with clutter. I think it must have been when I hauled everything out of your bedroom. Gotta go vacuum, just got home from Grandma's so nothing is done here yet.
You're not off your rocker at all. Yaya is already learning how to clear her own dishes from the table and clean up her own messes. She doesn't make quite so many of them now that she sees it's not all fun and games.
Guess what? I didn't know how to load a dishwasher until I went to college. So pathetic. I just realized this year, that my kids don't know how to do it either. So was have been changing things over the last few months at this house.
We have the same expectations around here...so frustrating when their friends don't do it!
You're not off your rocker! Work those kids!
My kids take their dishes to the sink, but it's Katie's job to do the dishes. Madalyn really wants the dishes job...but she's really not tall enough :-)
Heck no you are not strange. I'm all about raising independent people over here. And I am often heard to say, "I am not your maid, I am your mother. Now clean it up, please!" :)
I laughed outloud at the friends comment! Awesome! (That you call them back in!!!) I love that you're having the capable 12 year-old cook - and waiting til 9 to eat. Perfect! I'm having my kids help - but having them fly solo before leaving the nest is a GREAT idea!
k
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