Alternative Dad : I remember when I was young, my mom washed the clothes in the morning and by 2pm, everything will be dried and folded away. You are strange. You wash clothes at night and hang your laundry at night!
Alternative Mom : If I do the laundry at night, I’d get to spend more time with the Angels in the day instead of being constantly engaged in chores. It gives me less stress and the clothes will get dry by 2pm tomorrow, anyway!
So, I was in bed talking to the Alternative Dad while waiting for the Angel to sleep.
I’ve been terribly exhausted lately for a long time and what a revelation this conversation led to!
Suddenly, I got it figured out!
I pull through my day running the household entirely, from the buying of groceries to preparing and cooking meals (I cook almost every single meal), washing up, laundry (yikes!) taking care of the Angels, homeschooling, outdoor time, excursions, everything.
For so many months, the Alternative Dad had not even lifted a finger to help me with any chores. The closest he has gotten to was to help me with washing a cup (his).
It’s no wonder that I’m spent and need to do my laundry at night!
So, after the conversation that really had a lot of laughter involved, he had a good laugh at himself AND volunteered to wash the dishes after dinner and do the occasional laundry.
Yahoo!!!!
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The above conversation took place about 3 weeks ago.
His enthusiasm is beginning to wane off, with one round of washing asking, “Why are there so many dishes to wash?”
My dishes are again piling up.
Maybe it’s time for that sort of conversation again.
Hey Jas! I was also laughing thru as I read this post. In fact, most of the time, I also do my laundry at night. Wash and hang at night aft the babies sleep. Sometimes, wash early morning, and then hang up while we are alll busy in the kitchen. Job seated on high chair looking what i am doing.. Grace washing her own dishes after her breakfast…. great bonding time too while we talk and Job listens and observing as well…
When I was without a maid last time, I do my laundry at night too and prepare the things to cook when my children are asleep. Next morning, b4 baby wakes up, I will quickly cook. If not, I ‘ll be slinging my baby and cook!
ha ha ha… i just told my husband tonight that i was inspired by you, that you did so much in spite of your honey… his response — “Yay! I get to be a lame husband!” !@#$#@ To be fair, Russell does do all the laundry (except that we’re pretty lame here w washer and dryer, so no tek kors to wrangle w; i thought it would be a challenge for me if I had to live there and deal w tek kors again) and all the dishes, and yes, his comment:”Why are there SO many dishes everyday!?” I blamed it on Megan.
Hey girl, you know what I think? Doesn’t matter how the chores get done, as long as they get done!!! And hey, you are one lucky lady! Your man does all the job, except the cooking bits! Remember how we can’t eat after all that cooking and feeding? Hahahh, and good idea that you can point it to Megan about the dishes! And hey, I found a solution to my chores problems! Ha!