Chores

I mentioned last week that I do not naturally create or abide by strict routines or schedules.  I have the desire to have a better handle on my routines and I expend a lot of mental energy thinking about how to do it.  Setting up and maintaining new routines typically involves lots of trial and error, but eventually I learn enough about what I'm trying to accomplish that I find my groove.  Figuring out how to consistently and effectively clean my house has been a routine I've been trying to nail down for years.

Shawn is incredibly helpful around the house and his cleaning is always focused and effective.   I have yet to muster up the same amount of focus or effectiveness in my own cleaning efforts, but my desire to instill responsibility and discipline in Nicole has given me a new purpose to create a cleaning schedule for our home.

After I identified which areas of our house I wanted cleaned regularly, I wrote a cleaning schedule.  It's taken a few re-writes to find what works for us but I'm happy to report that we're finally getting somewhere.  With the help of a few natural cleaning products and a toddler sized broom, I've been able to involve Nicole in doing chores around the house for a dedicated period of time each day.  She loves helping me gather our laundry and is especially interested in putting each item of clothing into the washing machine & helping me turn it on.  She follows me around the house with a matching microfiber cloth and happily helps me dry dust whenever she is done exploring the room we're in.  Nicole is delighted to hold a hand-held broom when it's time to sweep and she really likes it when she gets to help flush the toilet after we've scrubbed it.   The chores Nicole helps me with take significantly longer than when I do them by myself, but I consider the investment of time completely worth it.

Shawn and I believe that taking the time to teach our children how to do chores will help them to become more responsible, independent and helpful in the long run.  This unique season of doing chores with Nicole is special to me because it's fun and rewarding.  Our tasks may take the better part of an afternoon and still not be done perfectly, but we're both learning something in the process.  I'm learning more about what Nicole is interested in and how God has created her and she's learning how to care for her things and contribute to our household.  Someday Nicole will be big enough to dust all on her own, but until that happens I am cherishing every imperfect swipe of her cloth that I get to witness.  

I hope you are well!
Love,
Erica