I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
As soon as the girls and I walk in the door after work and school I spend at least 15 minutes wandering around the house, gathering up abandoned shoes and placing them by the back door, loading breakfast dishes into the dishwasher, and picking up rejected outfit choices off Miss C’s bedroom floor. She is already insistent that she change clothes every time we leave the house, so can you imagine what it will be like when she’s in high school?
Last Friday I had had it. Even though the girls help me around the house it just seems like I am constantly nagging them to pick their dirty clothes up off the floor and put them in the hamper in the laundry room. We live in a one-level, ranch style house so it’s not like I’m asking them to take the elevator from our third level down to the basement because the live-in butler is off for the weekend, you know, the one who helps me run our 5,000 square foot McMansion. Come to think of it, I could put a butler to work, despite not having a big house.
I had three loads of laundry to fold and I recruited the girls to help me put their neatly folded stacks away. Maybe they couldn’t get excited about picking up dirty clothes, but perhaps they could get into putting away clean clothes. I cranked some dance music and we went to work. Sorting socks to Lady Gaga was kind of fun. Who knew?
Miss A trotted eagerly to her bedroom after I handed her a small stack of clothes and yelled back, “Mommy, don’t come in my room! I’m going to surprise you. OK?”
About 10 minutes later she emerged, beaming with pride. She asked me to close my eyes, grabbed my hand and led me to her bedroom. I knew this was a big deal.
She had taken all of her gowns and pajamas out of her drawer and neatly folded them.
This Friday I think I’ll show her the joy of toilet scrubbing to Selena Gomez.
Wow great way to teach lol! I still can’t clean the house without music blasting, (which is bad because I live in an apartment and my work hours make cleaning at night lol) And I do my best cooking to Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra music!
.-= Angel´s last blog ..RTT Weddings and Puppies!! =-.
I’m trying so hard to maintain some type of order in my house. I’ve just started making Baby Girl help out with little things. I’m hoping if I keep saying “put your clothes in the laundry” that eventually she’ll just do it. Don’t laugh. I can dream.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Livin the dream =-.
When you, your sisters and brother were small – each of you would take your folded stack of clothes and put them away. Each of you put your plate and things off the table by the sink so I could wash them. Trying to think what else each of you did. Oh I know – All children helped me on Saturday morning do something.
Even if it was just picking up sticks in the yard. I am proud of you. They always fun the Swiffer for “grandma”.
.-= ernestine´s last blog ..Last Week Of August =-.
mom is tired – it is the end of the day. Meant run the Swiffer and when all 4 children helped on Saturday morning – it was for one hour
.-= ernestine´s last blog ..Last Week Of August =-.
So, you think the secret is Lady Gaga, huh? I guess that’s where I’m messing up. Whenever I try to get the kids to help around the house, I’m usually listening to WSM.
.-= Todd´s last blog ..You can
My neighbor told me she’s paying her twins 1 penny per pair of matched socks. Love it.
.-= EG´s last blog ..Friends =-.
EG I like that penny idea but Miss C would barter for at least a quarter a matched pair. She’s a negotiator like that!
Sounds like my house but I have a 14 year old daughter and a 15 year old boy who are driving me crazy but they too will surprise me with doing a deap cleaning of their rooms out of the blue.
Ahh the power of music.
.-= Nicole Feliciano´s last blog ..Turn Your Child into a Reader =-.