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Children's Chores

Children’s Chores
Each line is a different day of the week
6yo
Wipe bathroom sink and counter
Wipe Kitchen Chairs
Vacuum Upstairs
Remove Pillow Cases and Towels and take to laundry room
Wipe Kitchen Cupboards and Drawers

3yo
Wipe TV Stand
Vacuum with the hose (he gets the cracks next to the wall and hard to reach places – and loves it!)
Wipe Fridge Door and Front of Dish Washer
Wipe Microwave Door and Stand
Wipe Banister

1yo follow us around with a wet rag and does what he sees his brothers doing.

My Routines

Here are my routines. I do these at about the same time each day. Sometimes they take a long time depending on the temperments of my children and I finish on routine just to start the next. Usually we breeze through them and have free time in between the routines. I'm generally not strict on what we do. Sometimes we go to the library, play groups, or play games.

Morning Schedule
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Laundry – fold (15 Minutes) and start a load
Get Ready
Scripture Study
Organize Photos (I do not scrapbook during this season of my life. I slip the photos in an acid free album and label – I only do about 5-15 minutes a day, but it adds up.)
Computer Time

As soon as a child wakes up I stop the above morning schedule and let them watch one PBS show. Then I have one on one with the child if the others are not up. When everyone is awake we clean everyone’s bedrooms and put away the laundry that I folded. We even clean my room together. It’s pretty fun.

Tuesday and Thursday
Put in a load of laundry
Leave to workout at the gym for one hour
Come home and start the morning routine for MWF until all my kids are awake.

Then 6 yo gets everyone’s cereal out. (No, I don’t cook warm breakfast’s everyday. I make pancakes or waffles once or twice a week. Other days are cereal – cold or warm. I let my kids choose their cereal.) 3 yo gets the milk out.

After breakfast each child brings their plate to the sink. Even my 1 yo likes to do this since he sees his brothers do this. Then they help put away the cereal and milk. Then I send each boy to a different room to quietly play while I finish cleaning the dishes and table and sweeping the floor. I have found this clean up important to keeping a clean house and it only takes about 15 minutes.

Mid-Morning
On Tuesday and Thursday I do Yoga. Tuesday is 3yo computer time and the others either do yoga with me or take a bath. Thursday is 6yo computer time.

All of my other mornings are open to do what I need to do. We either play outside, play pretend, make bread, meet with friends, or run errands. (I try not to run errands because I just don’t like to do so with three little ones. I haven’t figured a way to come away not being worn-out.) Before we do any activity we have Chore Time. This is usually a little chore that each child is assigned. I used to do my own chores when they did theirs, but I found it works better for me to help them with their chores and then do mine when they are having quiet time. I will post what their chores are in a later post. They are simple and just enough to let them know we all have to help in a family, but not so much that they dread them.

We eat lunch and then we walk 6yo to the bus stop.

Then the younger two have quiet time.

Quiet Time Routine
Monday and Friday
Tidy
Exercise
Make Dinner
Organize something if no one is awake yet (1 hour)

Tuesday and Thursday
Make Calls
Tidy
Scriptures (If I haven’t already)
Make Dinner
Clean (1 hour) – I have a newly devised cleaning schedule that I will post tomorrow if I have time
3 To Do’s (This is just the random things that need to be done.)
Free Time
(I have never gotten to the free time, but I’m always hopeful.)

WednesdayMake Calls
Tidy
Scriptures (If I haven’t already)
Make Dinner
Free Time (Computer, read, nap, etc.)


I pick up my son from school because I found that he was always in a sour mood when he rode the bus.

When he gets home and everyone is awake then I vacuum the house and then take 5 minutes to clean our van.

Night Routine
Tidy (15 minutes)
Wash Face, brush, etc.
Pray
Read something (10 Minutes)
Sweet Dreams

I use timers a lot. That’s how I work. I only tidy for 15 minutes, but that is all I usually need. If I really don’t want to do it I think, “Just 15 minutes. I can do that.” I only deep clean for 2 hours a week. I tidy a lot and clean spills up immediately.

When you come to my house it is usually pretty put together. There will be a few things about because I don’t chase my kids around cleaning after them. I let them have fun and clean up at designated times. Every corner my not be spotless. My windows may have a few streaks, but everything is neatly put away. I will have time to have a spotless house in a few years. Right now I’m playing with my kids and enjoying my homemaking. It is tidy enough that the Holy Spirit may dwell here and I can think straight, but the dust bunnies show up periodically to play.

Head Lice

There was an outbreak of lice at my son's school. We are supposed to keep a close eye on our children. I don't even know a thing about it. I have looked up info on the net, but I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with it.

Schedule

A few weeks ago I devised a new schedule. It is working quite well. Hubby is traveling so I don't have a lot of down time. I will post it when I can.

Did yoga today. It felt great. My 6 yo and 1 yo were in a bubble bath and my 3yo was on the computer. I have to divert them while I do yoga so that I can have a little serenity. Sometimes one of them joins me, but I usually don't like all of them to join me at a time because somehow it turns into a wrestling match.

Easter Mountain

70 years ago my grandparents took their kids to Easter Mountain. Two days ago I took my kids to Easter Mountain. We have family from all over the country with us.
Family traditions are so important for family unity. It makes children feel a part of something larger than themselves and gives a sense of belonging. Some of my cousins and I only see each other at Easter time, but the memories that we shared when we were younger are still strong in our hearts. Our memories bind us. Four generations later the tradition that my grandparents planted has grown into a large tree. We still keep the tradition alive and we all still enjoy its fruits.

Meal Planning

Thanks for all the feedback. It sounds like most people like the 14 day plan. I guess you make a complete list of all the meals your family likes and then you pick 14 each time? I will compile my list in the next couple of days. I also noticed Robin likes to freeze some of her meals. That is a great idea. My question is what meals freeze well? I froze some soup and when I heated it back up it was all mushy. :(

Be Nice

As we are teaching our children to be nice, appreciative and respectful we too need to model these characteristics. Take five seconds and just think. Are you nice? You may say, “Yes, of course.” You may point out how you recently helped out a friend and how every single day you devote yourself to your dear children. Let me ask you this, When your husband comes home from working so hard, are you nice? Do you tell him how much you appreciate his hard work? Do you tell him about all the wonderful things you have because he is such a good provider? I’m not talking about luxuries. Imagine your life without a dishwasher, clothes washer, a house, and toys for your children. There is always something to be grateful for. Most of us thank God for these things because all good things come from him. That is wonderful and necessary, but make sure you thank your husband, and often, for the work he does to help buy the things you have. God often works through others to give us the blessings we need. Husbands are a wonderful blessing and through the “sweat of their brow” God’s plan for the roles of man and woman are beautifully kept and peace abounds. Try it. Try for a week to tell your husband everyday how thankful you are that he works so hard. Tell him that you admire his work ethic. Tell him how happy you are that he provides for your family. Try it and you will love the results. Men want to be admired and appreciated. Admire them for their manly qualities and you will see those qualities develop. You will see them excel and your life' in turn' will be enriched. In a different entry I will share my views of repecting and admiring our husbands.

Build Up Not Down

I recently visited a Christian Blog that I frequent. I was disappointed to see her pointing out things that reflect the Catholic Church in a bad light. I know she is trying to bring people to Christ, including Catholics. I am not Catholic, but I have a strong belief that the proper way, you could even say the fair way, to bring others to understand and ultimately share your beliefs is not by bringing up the faults of their religion. If you have the truth all you need to do is to teach that truth and something about it will swell the souls of those you are teaching and they will know that what they have been taught previously is false and they will know the truth. Falsehoods will manifest themselves. They cannot stand. So build yourself up instead of tearing them down.

Meal Planning

I'm going to try the 14 day menu plan. This is the one where you plan 14 menu plans and then you buy all that stuff and you are set for two weeks. Has anyone tried this? I'm having a hard time thinking of even 14 things that I cook. I used to always try new recipes, but for this season in my life I don't want to spend as much time cooking. I love to cook, but all things in moderation.