I don't know what happened over the last few months but I noticed that little by little, less and less was getting done in the morning. The simplest of chores like cleaning up the kitchen was not getting done. At first it was just the trash. Then the dishes stopped being loaded unless I was there to remind the kids. This was frustrating to say the least--- how can seven people not unload, load, clear off the island, sweep around the island, and take out the trash? It used to get done. I guess you can say it was my fault because silly me thought that after years of this routine, I could stop giving individual instructions so that they could just get it done as a team.
But noooooo.
That was too much to expect.
So I came up with a new plan.
One child has kitchen duty for the morning. Just one child.
They will unload the dishwasher and then load the breakfast dishes.
They will clear off the island and then sweep around it.
Finally they will take out the trash.
This takes only 15 or 20 minutes and then that child is done with kitchen duty for the next six days.
I expected the kids to moan and groan when I suggested this, but they all seemed okay with it.
Julia offered to be on morning kitchen duty first. She unloaded before she went to bed the night before.
I think she was done in 10 minutes this morning. probably because no one was under her feet to slow her down. Looking back I could see how the person putting away the silverware with the basket on the island could slow the person who is clearing off the island down. And who could sweep with three people in the kitchen doing their chores?
This new way seems so much more efficient.
Now I can tend to last minute things like signing papers, doing hair, finding shoes, and spending a few minutes with John.
10 inspiring thoughts:
Been there...sometimes all it takes is a shake up in routine to get things going again!!
hugs
Susan
We do a chore chart...my husband has his own program on the computer...and he makes it up for a month ahead. It is printed out and all can see..that way no one can argue with it. He also does Sat. or other day charts when we have a project going... our kids do well with this and we have no bickering.
we constantly have to keep coming up with new plans, more effective ways of doing the daily chores. Its a struggle but when you have a big family it takes everyones help and cooperation to get the tasks done. My kids that are still home are good about doing whatever I ask and picking up after themselves, however when my kids come home from college they just dump their stuff everywhere. It drives me crazy and I'm finding it hard to parent adult manboys......
We have a morning check list that pretty much one or two people complete and initial.
Sounds like a marvelous plan - makes a lot of sense. That was very smart of Julia to empty the dishwasher the night before to save time. You are such a good mother Christine and have a great family. I love reading your blog every day.
That is great! I just recently started getting Aurora more involved in kitchen duties.
Sounds like your new plan will work out better and give each child a sense of accomplishment!
I am going to do this for our whole household as well including Robert!!! I like it!!
Clever! What a good idea!
That is a fantastic idea. I have another blog friend that has 12 children and each child has dish washing duty for a whole year. All the older one's help with meals and doing their chores.
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