We love to entertain and while the summer months beckon most of our guests poolside, the cooler times of year invite people inside our home. I get more excited to have people inside because many of our rooms are spaces I’ve put my heart and soul into. But something that has always stressed me out about having guests over is the cleaning.
There is something about adding in a third child that has brought an intensity to this domestication thing well, really to every facet of my life. Honestly, one of the best things blogging has done for me is given me an outlet to channel my OCD. When I first became a stay-at-home mom I was obsessed with the cleanliness of our home, to a point that made me not so fun to live with, I imagine. I mean, I used to clean baseboards with a toothbrush quite regularly. A few more kids and a blog later, don’t you dare get too close to my baseboards.
I still long for a clean and orderly house at all times, but I don’t have the time to make it that way or the brain space to worry about it as much. And because I’m an all-or-nothing perfectionist, I have often left things messy or dirty until I had the time to fully commit to the job. But I’ve figured something out in the last year that has been a game changer. Chores. You heard that right. My kids doing things for me has been a glorious discovery!
INSPIRED KITCHEN: BLACK STOOLS | BLACK PENDANT LIGHTS
The reality I’ve come to is I can either be anxious in a dirty house or let my expectations go and let my kids do a halfway decent job. It’s a win-win because I get a house that is a bit more calming, and they get to learn responsibility and how to be a contributor to our family.
Xander is 8 and Milly is 5. One day I just decided “hey, they can empty the dishwasher.” “Xander can vacuum.” “There’s no reason Milly can’t dust.” Have you seen that graphic that says “If your child can operate a smartphone, they can use any one of these…” and it shows things like a mop, a washer and dryer, a dustpan. It’s so true! Many of the chores have been divided up according to who can do what, Xander is taller and can handle the vacuum better but some things are just a matter of what they’re better at Xander is better at sorting laundry and Milly is better at emptying the dishwasher.
INSPIRED DINING ROOM: LAMP | CHAIR | TABLE
When it comes to cleaning products I feel like I’ve finally found the right ones. I’ve tried harsh chemicals, disposable dusters and pads, and natural products. I’ve found that furniture polish just attracts dust to surfaces, disposable things are handy but wasteful environmentally and financially and natural products cost a good amount of money or take time to make – I already can’t find time to clean, let alone make, ha. I’ve always loved OXO’s kitchen tools, but it wasn’t until recently that I tried their cleaning products.
They have all of the same great features…incredibly well made, affordable, a clean, sleek design, and super user friendly. All of the dusters and pads are removable for easy washing, and you know I love a pop of poppy red, so they even look pretty when they get left out. The dusters are great for any age, but my personal favorite has been the under appliance duster. That is the most satisfying and sometimes horrifying thing to use!
The broom and pan work like a dream, and the pole is adjustable so it can function easily for me or Milly with a simple twist. I think the mop is my favorite though. I get asked all the time how I clean the floors in our kitchen. For quite some time I would just get a pad wet with hot water and mop until I had to get it wet again. I always kept something to scrape off food that the mop couldn’t get in my hand because kids and would have to get down to really scrub.
But this spray mop comes with a refillable bottle that I just put hot water in with a splash of vinegar. And you can release the Slide-Out Scrubber simply by stepping on the foot pedal to scrub off stubborn, dried up food. It’s so easy to use it’s kind of fun. How I know this? My kids have actually been arguing over who’s turn it is to mop, and that was certainly never the argument before. Making my kids take some responsibility in our house is not always easy, and they don’t always go along with a smile on their face. When they know they’re being photographed it makes those expressions (and outfit choices) a bit different. Here’s some proof…
He’s going to love that this is on the internet someday, I’m sure. In the long run, the ownership they will feel and the help I receive will far outweigh the time it takes to teach and the grumblings sometimes heard before they begin, right?
Do your kids do chores? What are their responsibilities?
Our laundry room is where I do my weekly chore, laundry! Check it out here.
*This post has been in partnership with OXO but all thoughts, opinions, and selections are my own.
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Kelly says
Great post! I’m expecting baby number 4 in February, and I was just telling my husband that I need to put some effort into teaching our older 3 how to help out around the house! I am in a terrible habit of doing EVERYTHING for them, and I know I’m selling all of us short. Thank you for the push to make some positive changes in our home!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Yes! It’s definitely more work at first, but now it’s so nice to have less responsibility in that area! And I feel like my kids are more aware of the messes they make because they understand the work that goes into cleaning now. Congrats on baby #4!
ann says
Love this – my mum had a cleaner but we still had to do chores.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Chores teach responsibility, they’re so good!
TNic/Tanya says
Your daughter looks like a definite mini you in the profile picture where she is sweeping in the kitchen!! Outfit and all!! The new paint in your living room looks pink in one of the pics, is it pink, or does it have a pink undertone? It’s very pretty!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, thank you! It’s not, it’s a taupey grey, maybe you’re seeing some of the light bouncing out of the library. 🙂
TNic/Tanya says
Thanks, it is really pretty…love it with the tree in the new post!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Shell says
Oh yes! My boys, ages 15 and 12, have been doing chores since they were young. They are fantastic. They are in charge of cleaning all of the basement rooms (family room, den, bathroom, office) as well as their own bedrooms. Also, recycling, dinner dishes, laundry and shovelling our super long driveway in the winter months are chores they are expected to help with on a regular basis. We are a family that believes that everyone works together to keep our home well cared for. I also like knowing that they will be able to look after their homes when they are out on their own. Life skills right? : )
themakerista@gmail.com says
Sounds amazing, yes…kids don’t seem to know as many life skills anymore and it’s so important!
Sydney Hall-Richards says
It is so wonderful to see children helping clean with you! It’s not so common today but it should be. I’ve worked with younger women and think vacuuming is cleaning the house….you’re a good mom!
themakerista@gmail.com says
I agree, kids could use a bit more work. 😉
Meredith says
The under appliance duster is SUPER handy! My dog likes to “hide” skinny rawhides under the stove and then bark to get them back. This used to involve MOVING the oven and now I simply slide my duster under there and retrieve 4 or 5 of them. (This doesn’t result in a well-trained dog, but I think that ship has sailed for me.) 🙂
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha! That’s really funny, I know how that is!
Sandy Tharp says
I have to tell you watching Millie dust made me a little nervous. Your home must be much more child proofed than mine always was. Cute pics…
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, I just don’t have anything that’s very nice, Sandy! 😉 Most of the breakable things were found at a thrift store, so I don’t worry too much about them. Thank you!
Lindsey says
Great post thank you! I made a comment ages ago on your FB page that I wasn’t receiving your blog posts although I was signed in, just letting you know that whatever you did or technology did or maybe ‘the cloud was responsible….I am back on the receiving end of your lovely posts. My boys are grown and have flown but both can wield a vacuum cleaner and clean a toilet….actually better than their partners….or maybe that’s just a ploy on the part of said partners!.
themakerista@gmail.com says
So glad I got it figured out! It took me a while, huh? 😉 Ugh, technology! Sounds like a good ploy to me!
Sandra P says
I have been an idiot and I bow down to you!!! I’m a stay at home mom so I always figured I wanted things done right and It’s been “easier” for me to everything. So impressed be Millie emptying out the dishwasher and dusting! My mind is BLOWN!!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, I’m sure not an idiot, but I hope I inspired you! It’s good for them and once they learn good for you too!
Joanna says
I love the shine on your kitchen floors! That would make me smile every time I entered the room. OCD here, too.
I think it’s great that you have your kids doing chores. They live in the house, so why shouldn’t they help you keep that home clean. My kids always had chores to do. Two grew up to have lovely homes and to be good cooks. The baby, on the other hand, has a messy home and is a fast food/out of the can cook. Not sure what happened there but she and her family are happy and that’s all that really matters.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, well 2 out of 3 😉 Yes, when those floors shine they make me really happy too!
Paula Moreshead says
This is a greaat post for several reasons, the first being how beautiful your home is and yet really livable. I also love that you are involving your children in taking responsibility for the spaces that the whole family shares. Since my 5 children have been grown for several years, I guess I didn’t realize that it’s not as common for modern children to have chores at home, but we made chores a part of every day life, and I have seen the positive benefits in them as adults. And, lastly, I’m so happy to learn about the OXO ckeaning products, especially the spray mop. I’m definitely planning to give that more thought.
Thanks.
themakerista@gmail.com says
It does seem uncommon…families are so busy now that I think kids are missing out on a lot of life skills. Their products are amazing, you won’t regret it!
Melanie Mercado says
I’ve got to get that appliance duster. It’s amazing how much dust collects under those things! And it looks like my kids would have fun using that spray mop. When my last pack of Swiffer pads runs out, I’m buying it!
I’ve been so happy since I had that “Wait-a-minute!-the-kids-should-be-doing-this!” lightbulb moment. Lol!. They are now 8 and 7 and for the last year, or so, I’ve had them dust, sweep, mop, collect garbage from the small bins around the house, fold socks and put away their own laundry (after I fold it). I try to show them that money for video games and toys doesn’t grow on trees and that we all have to work to earn what we want – so instead of allowance, I give them a few dollars for every chore they do. I then make them keep track of their earnings in a notebook. My daughter was so set on a new American Girl doll that she did chores at her Grandparents house too!
themakerista@gmail.com says
It’s a total game changer! I did the exact same and it’s so nice to not have to keep buying pads and throwing them away anymore. So smart, I should start giving them initiative for each one too!
Sara says
My 13 year old does his own laundry and picks up after himself but he’s often so bogged down with homework we don’t make him do much more until the summer. It’s surprising how much my younger ones actually wnjoy being good helpers and having a job to do. I’m going to check out that refillable swiffer!
themakerista@gmail.com says
It’s awesome! And I totally get that. We had to help my mom clean the whole house during the summer and really only had responsibility of our own rooms when we got older. I think it makes sense!
Jackie says
I love everything about this!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Jackie!
Jen says
Do I spy the freshly painted wood panel room in the background? I can’t wait to see a post about that project! The wood room is what initially drew me to your blog, because it was so different from what everyone else is doing. But change is fun, and I’m looking forward to seeing a fresh look in there, with a thoughtful explanation of your design choices.
themakerista@gmail.com says
You do! Hoping to share more in the next few days!
themakerista@gmail.com says
You do! Thanks, Jen. It’s coming soon! I think it’s going to feel fresh and most importantly, but a space we love to live in more often!
Kathy says
Great post! We have an 8 and 12 yr old and they go daily and weekly chores (although after reading this I think it’s time to give my youngest more jobs!). It makes keeping the house in order easier but sometimes the perfectionist in me wants to do it. lol Love your kids posing!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Totally agree, Kathy! Thank you!
Mary says
I grew up doing chores & I had my daughter doing chores also. I think it’s an important part of growing up.
The under the appliance sweeper is new to me. I need to get that ASAP!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Agreed! And you do!
Kathleen Butler says
Hi Gwen! It’s been a long time since we worked on your kitchen project, but I have followed along on all the other projects…..and am blown away by the paneled room!! It is exactly what I had in mind when we talked back then!! Love it!! Also, love that your kids are helping out, even if its reluctantly!! My kids started helping me when we purchased our first home in New Hampshire, they were 9 and 10…and again it wasn’t always with a smile, but I could have company drop in at any given time and not feel the least bit of embarrassment!! They were solely responsible for maintaining the overall neatness….but I was in my element on Saturdays when I did the deep cleaning!! OCD much?? Yes, that’s me!!! Anyway….so glad to see others are giving their children responsibilities….so many don’t…to the detriment of their development!! Just makes for better people when they achieve adulthood!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Kathleen! We miss you! Every time we go to Lowe’s Milly requests to try and find you and we talk about you. 🙂
Ruth Wesolowski says
If my children remember me for just one commonly used phrase, it would be my famous line: I’m your mother, not your maid.
Our kids do chores. Our house is not huge, but it’s not tiny either. There’s no way I could keep up on it all myself (and still attend to other duties, or have any sort of life.) The kids are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, sweeping daily the common areas of the house, mopping once a week, washing the dinner dishes, cleaning the second bathroom, and doing their own laundry. It doesn’t all get done perfectly, or on time, but they have to start somewhere. And the two oldest (14 and 12) are both perfectly capable of making dinner (and they can do so better than me usually… The cooking gene skipped me and went straight to my daughters). All of this has come in very handy lately since I’ve had some health issues that have left me in bed much of the day.
themakerista@gmail.com says
I love your perspective, Ruth! I am praying for a kid who likes to cook over here! I definitely think that would be an amazing gift from God, ha. I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well…praying for healing right now for you!