I understand chores suck. I understand that no one WANTS to do the dishes or take our the trash or sweep or vacuum. I get it. I hate it also but unfortunately, we are a 1 income large family and therefore a maid just isn’t in the cards. Sorry, not sorry. But we all live here and so we all have to clean it up. Especially because the kids are here 24/7. If I never made them lift a finger- 1: I would be doing them a huge disservice from understanding that chores are a part of life and must get done, 2: this place would be a (bigger) mess constantly.
But maybe chores don’t have to suck AS MUCH. I strongly encourage my children to find ways to make their chores fun. Monster and Mermaid race to see if he can take the trash out before she finishes putting the bag in. Music while cleaning their room is a must for Monkey. And making picking up a toys a game by telling her a color or shape, keeps Munchie engaged and more attentive to requests.
Not everything can be fun. They get that. I can’t make dishes easier to wash. But I can let you listen to music while you do it. I can’t make sweeping desirable but I can take pictures of the pile you make and see who gets the biggest pile before they go into the trash can. I can’t make laundry fun but I can make sure it is pared down so that there isn’t so much.
I wasn’t a clean freak growing up and I am still not but I also do understand that your environment directly impacts your mental health and therefore I want to change our environment and my children’s outlook on creating a calm environment so that they are set up for success in not needing things to feel comfort but taking comfort in the space there is to exist.
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