I do believe I've tried every option possible to recruit help around
the house. I've tried withholding special items. I've tried paying
good money for chores. I've even tried a little torture .. only
joking. Few things have worked. Some things have not. But I have
found that if you change back and forth from one good idea to
another, help usually happens. When your family stops helping out
around the house, try another method. Afterall, we all get bored
with housework.
One of the basic housekeeping rules is to keep it simple. Oh sure it
would be nice for our husband to wake up one day and say "You know, I
really feel like deep cleaning the bathroom today. You sleep in!"
If you are like most housewives, you'd probably be happy if somebody
else would do a few little jobs each week. Or at the very least,
cleaning up after themselves!
Baskets are easy and simple. You can leave a basket at the top of
the stairs for items that need to go downstairs. Or a basket by the
door for items that need to leave the house like library books and
movie rentals. Get into the habit of checking your basket every time
you pass it. Others will see you doing this and hopefully pick up on
the idea. If they don't pick up on it, then pick something up from
the basket and throw it at them. Maybe next time they pass the
basket they'll remember to look in it!
If you are always running out of items and nobody is telling you, try
this simple technique. Buy colored toilet paper. Put the colored
toilet paper in the back of the supply. When you see the pink paper,
you know it is time to buy some more. Get family members into the
habit of writing down the item when they open the last box. Keep a
running list posted on the refrigerator or by the front door. If
your family is always forgetting to write down the items, have them
toss the empty box into a special basket or box so you can make the
list of the needed items. Make sure that the list is handy enough to
be spotted so your family members will remember to write on it and so
they'll take it with them to the store!
The most important simple housekeeping method that I've used that
actually works is using a timer. Everybody is eager to help if they
are trying to "beat the clock". Make it a game. Even if they are
reluctant to join in the "fun", they'll be more eager to help if they
can see it is not an all day event. And it is a great way to keep
track of cleaning points for rewards.
Rewards are a very good motivator for children. You can use many
different rewards. From paying per chore, to paying per minute of
work. Earning cleaning points toward a treat or special event.
Heck, I even knew a wife who gave her husband "bedroom points" for
his cleaning minutes acculmated. Whatever works for you and gets the
job done. Just include the family in your reward system planning
before you set it up. Nobody wants to work for a reward that you
don't really want!
If all else fails, hire a housekeeper. If paid help is not in your
budget, explain to your family that you have to do without cable, or
eating out just so you can pay for a little help and your sanity.
That'll get them everytime!
About the Author:
Roxanna Ward, Community leader and staff writer for
BabyUniversity, lives in Georgia with her husband and
her three children. As a published freelance writer the focus of her
writing is concentrated on sharing household tips, her experience
with her frugal lifestyle as well as the phenomenal process of
breastfeeding, child rearing related issues and romantic
relationships. She is also currently the Editor of three newsletters:
What's New at BabyU?, Intimate Encounters and At Home with Baby
University. Sign up for those Here Roxanna can be contacted at Roxanna30135@aol.com.
