How do you do it all? That’s the question I get asked most often. Answer is, I don’t. No one can. But as a mom of many I recognize that my primary role is management. I don’t have to “do it all.” God has given me many helpers to accomplish the family goals He has given us. Here are some basic tips for getting household things done.
Utilize your work force! Train the children to do household duties and assign them to them. They should know what needs to be done when and by whom, so mom doesn’t have to be constantly thinking of this. Use Chore Charts, if needed to help them remember. Utilize Routine.
Mom should not be trying to plan, teach, care for little ones, and do all the household cleaning, meal prep and clean up, laundry, etc. by herself. The children can handle many, perhaps all the household cleaning and perhaps even meals and laundry depending on their ages. I find teens love to go shopping, even if it’s just for groceries. 🙂 They can also prepare meal lists.
Older ones can play with little ones and even teach some things to younger ones when mom needs to work one-on-one with another one, or work on a household project.
Each child, by middle elementary age, can do their own laundry (and a younger one’s and the younger ones can help).
Even a younger elementary age can put juice and cereal on the table or make sandwiches for the family. And preschoolers can set and help clear the table.
This is not slave labor. It is everyone working together (including the “man of the house”, he lives there and is a parent, too) for a common goal – and training for adulthood.
Just a few tips – I’ll elaborate and give more another time.
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