Reply to I want to drop the rope on being mom

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[quote=Anonymous]At that age, you can’t drop the rope without warning. But you can calmly and repeatedly insist on getting household participation from others.

Each kid gets a laundry basket. Once a week, they fill it and help you take it to the washer. Everything in together on cold. Clothes only go in the washer when pants are right side out, underwear is removed from pants, and socks are not scrunched in a ball. When wash finishes, they move to dryer. (Show them what settings to choose.) Then they help you bring basket back to their room and they put away.

You only leave for piano/ballet/soccer if child is properly dressed for weather/activity and has assembled all their gear. If you are more than X minutes late to depart, you don’t go. When you return home, they wash out water bottle/put away bobby pins/hang up wet towel/repack gear bag so they’re ready for next time.

One-pot meals, breakfast for dinner and rotisserie chickens are your friends. Kids set table and clear, including rinsing plates and properly loading dishwasher. Run it every night, then kids and husband are responsible for unloading it in the morning.

Institute a 10-minute cleanup blitz every evening. Create a playlist and have everyone rush around like maniacs putting stuff where it belongs until it stops. You are not allowed to only focus on your stuff — if you see something out of place, store it/trash it/recycle it. If there’s dirt, sweep it/wipe it/vacuum it. Five people x 10 minutes is almost an hour of cleaning each day. It makes a huge difference over time.

Have a visible calendar with all appointments and Very Special Celebrations noted. This helps kids see when Hawaiian Shirt Day is so they can plan. And it helps remind you so you can remind them.

Every so often, remark that you’ve saved so much time not rushing around, cleaning up unnecessary crap, or arguing about either, you have time to go for ice cream or watch a movie together. Nobody likes to feel bribed, but everyone appreciates a spot bonus. [/quote]

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