LAUNDRY. It's kind of a swear word to me. I loathe it, I would rather clean toilets bare-handed than complete the DON'T SAY IT! LAUNDRY. Yeah, it's no problem getting it done, but folding it? I just have never got that part of it down... not because I don't know how...I was the queen of the folding board for many many years! But because I just don't want to. I was not a rebel growing up, but I am a laundry rebel. Isn't it just as easy to dig through a pile of clean clothes sitting in a basket to find a shirt as it is to dig through a drawer or a pile on the floor to find one? Maybe my days as the 'Gap Girl' are haunting me. I used to come home from work with a bag of clothes for my brothers...almost daily--how could I pass up $3.99 minus 30%? I mean really! I am the deal queen. There's a direct relationship to the amount of clothes in their closets and the piles of laundry to match it. I think we can go 2 weeks without running out of clothes and underwear, but I'm certain the boys have worn their socks 2 and 3 times at that point. And the girls, they can go 3 weeks, I'm sure. It's a sickness...I know. If I got rid of two-thirds of their clothes, laundry wouldn't be such an issue, right? Easy as pie. But not so much.
Some of my laundry freak-friends, you know who you are, well they fold it as it comes out of the dryer. Who has time for that? If I'm not changing poopie bottoms x 2 or retrieving Vivs from the top of the stairs before she tumbles (she's almost trained on that one) then I'm trying to feed Vivie her bottles that she's too busy to drink or keeping the girls busy or getting on them to clean up their own messes. Seriously. Like I've said before, six kids should come with an Alice. I did finally hire Maria to come help me clean once a week. But that's another song and dance...cleaning before the cleaning lady comes. She's cheap, so I can justify my one splurge to help with my sanity. Maybe I should just hire her to do the Shhhhhhh, don't say it! laundry...
My heart did giant flip flops, I jumped for joy...literally. Partly because I felt badly I didn't get it done, but MOSTLY because wow! Monson took immense initiative and did it all! From washing, drying and now he's working on folding....he's not just thumbling through the clean clothes to find his shirt, he's folding it ALL (and he washed it too).
He didn't want to wait one more day for his clothes to be washed. And note, he also did McKenzie's and Vivie's, plus whatever was in the laundry room at the time.
The greatest thing about it all? I didn't bribe him...he just wanted his clothes washed and folded and NOW! And I'm thinking it's time for all the McLaughlin children over 8 to do his/her own laundry...at least this summer while they have time. And no, I'm not a sweat shop...but he's shown me on his own that he's capable! If it's fun for kids that age, then by all means, HUMOR me. Keep on doing the laundry. I love independence.
12 comments:
Super sweet Monson! Could I fly him to my house to do our laundry? I have a huge pile that needs to be folded. For me that's the worst part too!
If my kids (or husband!) did that, I would probably faint! How awesome, Monson. Some day, some woman most likely won't deserve you!
This is my new laundry method (new since our new house 2 years ago, which came with zero California Closets, unlike my childhood): I make stacks. Sid/Calvin stack. Jon/Tommy stack. Then Jos, Pie and I get our own stacks. I hand them to the children and they put them in their closets. As a stack. On the floor of their closet. No dressers. So no guilt there. Why no dressers? Because they would most likely be used for hibernating stuffed animals. So mommy doesn't fold clothes. And when it comes to Pie's clothes, he has a laundry stick in his closet to pretreat cuffs and collars. Because I am not Ellie the upstairs maid. I will wash and dry and stack, but that is where I draw the line.
It is embarrassing how long these comments of mine are! Oh! and I checked out the Norwegian story post. Way cool. She seems like a fun mommy, too.
Way to go Monson!! That kid deserves ice cream! :)
What a sweetheart. I love how McKenzie is watching Monson get the job done. I, too am a laundry loather. It never ends. I'd love a laundry do-er like Monson in my house!
The sad thing is, I do the same thing, but it ends up in a pile on the floor in MY room! I hate folding, but I also hate having piles in my bedroom. Is there ever a happy medium? :)
Ick, the L-word. What an amazing thing for Monson to do! I think it's totally appropriate to have the older kiddos pitch in.
What a sweet boy! I love that you have a picture to go along with this post! I honestly don't mind washing and folding the clothes, it's putting them away that I can't stand. When we all turned twelve, it was our responsibility to do our own laundry. My mom also had six kids and it's just too much laundry for one person to do alone!
PLEASE send him to me. I have a whole pile of stinking Girl's Camp laundry that I don't want to do.
I hate laundry.
Wow!! That is awesome! I love it when kids show initiative and do something without being asked. It makes life a little easier! Way to go Monson!
Monson, Monson, Monson...I love that kid. I feel your joy Shay!
WOW Monson - I'm so proud of you!!!!! You are a super hero!!!!!!! I know Heavenly Father is so happy that you are preparing yourself for baptism. Service is a HUGE part of being a young man worthy of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You make me so proud. I'm thankful to be your grandma! You are a wonderful example to all of us. I know how much your actions meant to your mother. Keep up the good work.
Wait, I had to pick myself up off of the floor! Holy cow! Please tell him to mention his good deed in Primary and hopefully it will inspire my children!
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