As the person most in charge of the cleanliness and organizational status of the household, I can say that it definitely creates some resentment and frustration. So often this role falls to women, but not always. I don’t want to make any assumptions about how your house runs. However, I will say that the physical and mental labor associated with the indoor upkeep of the house falls about 80% (I’m being generous with this number since my husband may read it) on me. It’s not fair, but it’s the truth. It should be more equitable, but it isn’t. In his defense, I have no desire to cut the grass. It’s hot and there are bugs, so I choose laundry!
I am always searching for more ways to incorporate my spouse and kids into my day to day efforts to keep the house running smoothly. There are two methods that I have found to be most useful: technology and self-interest. Yes. My family helps me best when it involves some form of technology or gadget and when there is something in it for them!
On the technology front, I’ve tried several apps and gadgets that have failed me. The best thing I’ve found is using my Alexa. I keep one upstairs in the common area and one downstairs in the kitchen. I have several lists that not only help me, but help my family to help me. For example, everyone knows that we have a “grocery list” on the Alexa. When someone opens the last box of Pop Tarts, they just say “Hey Alexa, add PopTarts to the shopping list”. It took some time, but once I stopped buying things that weren’t on the shopping list, it was amazing how quickly everyone learned to add stuff when needed! This also assumes that your kids are old enough to participate. However, when a kid is old enough to get their own snack out of the pantry, they are old enough to add to the shopping list.
The other way, is if helping me be clean and organized helps them. I have a deal with my teens that I don’t mind washing and drying their clothes as long as they are in the laundry room and sorted when it’s time for me to do laundry. I have a set laundry routine (Wednesday and Saturday) and they know their deadline is the night before because I start very early in the morning before I go to work. A couple of laundry cycles of having to wash their own clothes was enough to get their participation in my pre-determined process. I don’t nag them about it because it doesn’t inconvenience me as much as it inconveniences them if they fail to comply. Plus, it allows us to have an agreement on what I’m willing to do and what they are responsible for. Me: Wash, Dry, Sort into color coded baskets on laundry day. Them: Drop Off laundry, Pick up the basket of your assigned color with your now clean clothes, fold your clothes and put them into your drawers. Saves them some effort, clothes smell like mom washed them, and I never have a buildup of laundry at my house. #Winning!
Keeping your home organized into just about a plastic tub here or a storage rack there. It’s about the total organized mindset of caring for your home, office or even your car in a way that makes your life easier. I seek to find tools that I can utilize and a routine my family can follow to consistently create order in our household to ultimately save me time. There’s a lot of trial and error, but when I find something that works I stick to it religiously. If it doesn’t work after giving it a fair shot, then I move on to the next. I could tell you that my kids love all my systems and processes, but that would be a lie for sure. What I can say is that they respect the rules that I have put in place because they are clear and they know what is expected.