You know the saying that housekeeping is like beading a string with no knot in the end? In other words, as soon as you get the laundry done, someone takes off a pair of dirty socks…

Well, I’d suggest tying as many knots as you can in your housekeeping strings!

And the best way I know to do that is to anticipate as much as you can. What does that look like?

It looks like:

*Having a plan of how and when and who will do the laundry, regularly, at your house; Which loads happen on which days; Who is in charge of getting them through the washer and the dryer; Who is in charge of folding and putting them away. {Oh, don’t stop at washing and drying or you’re asking for a mountain to bury you in unfolded, clean clothes! And then after awhile, who knows which are clean and which are dirty?} And don’t forget to consider when the bed clothes will be changed and who is in charge of re-making which beds.

*Making decisions about what food you will prepare through the week; Knowing who will be cooking and who will be cleaning up.

*Expecting family members to clean-up after themselves; Backpacks are put in a designated space; Shoes and coats come off and get quickly put in their places by the wearers; Beds are made, even by the littlest members and toys are the responsibility of those who have pulled them out in the first place.

*Sharing the load when it comes to yard work and taking out garbages and cleaning the family car, inside and out.

*Starting when children are very young, invite them to participate in the maintenance of the home and of their own belongings. It is wonderful to be considered part of the family team!

I wish you all the best in your on-going efforts to create a house of order and a place of peace at home.

You are making a great difference in the lives of so many!

Be well.

Love,

Jacque

P.S. We can’t honestly complain about what we agree to, either by not setting boundaries or not following through with them! {Well, we can, and I have, but it doesn’t hold much water does it?}

P.P.S. Maybe everyone else won’t do “their jobs” exactly like you would, but they will learn if you will allow them to try! Share the load and share the evolution of skills and confidence that will follow.