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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Timing of Housework
For me, the first thing that falls out of routine when I am under the weather is housework. I did a little catching-up in the main level -- vacuuming and mopping and decluttering.
Dh regularly bathes our son for the bedtime routine. We take turns doing the bedtime reading. Tonight dh did it all while I finished vacuuming and mopped the kitchen.
I love doing it in the evening. It's not that I have an energy surge or am a night owl. Our son isn't taking naps any more on a regular basis, and by the end of the day I'm worn out. I enjoy having the housework all done in the evening because no one is going to disturb my task or make a mess until morning. I won't have little feet running into the wet floor, slipping and doing the cartoon feet over the head fall. I won't have a little person taking all the vacuum attachments and making them cars. I won't have to trip over more toys or trucks scooting by while I run the vacuum.
It's not that I mind having my little one around. It's just more relaxing doing cleaning in the quiet of the house. I can meditate on other things, have a clearer focus, do my task more efficiently.
I don't always do major cleaning in the evening. Dh wants to wind down, and that doesn't include having vacuums humming. But I do enjoy the times that I can do it.
If you have only little ones, when do you prefer to do some of the bigger household tasks?
20:55 Posted in Musings | Permalink | Comments (8) | Email this
Comments
When my children were small, I would clean alot at night, too....sometimes, I'd wake early and clean in the morning...when they were really small, it was hard to have a set time...
But now that they're getting older...they help! Whoooo hooooo!
Posted by: Maria | Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Yeah, I have Marianna help, sometimes cheerfully, sometimes not. It all depends on how exciting her book is at that moment! I can't blame her, I hate to be pulled out of an adventure to scrub floors too. LOL!
When she was young I really preferred early morning as I was always hopeful it would help wake her up, the child can (and has) slept through hurricanes!
Maybe it was all that sleep through vaccuuming training I gave her?!?
Posted by: Jennifer | Wednesday, January 31, 2007
I prefer mornings. At night I try to guard my time so I can relax and unwind. Read-watch tv! :)
I do know how it feels to try and get the house under control after being sick. I was so happy the other day to clean my bathrooms...I realized at that point how much I enjoy being a homemaker if clean toilets make my day! :)
Posted by: Marybeth | Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Hi Jenn -- I'm with you... I like cleaning at night, so that I have the satisfaction of knowing that my effort will be fruitful for at least a couple of hours (even if we're all asleep!) The other option is Saturday naptime -- because I like the house clean for Sunday. Since Daddy is home... most of the playing is outside or in the basement, so the house stays pretty clean!
Posted by: Maryan | Friday, February 02, 2007
I need my evenings "off" so I do as much as I can in between meal times and nap times (I nap w/ babe). The 3 boys are usually occupied w/ toys or such and I'll do laundry and dishes and sweeping.
Big cleaning is an all out event that happens about once or twice a month and requires dh's help in keeping the kids busy.
My kds often "help" me w/ daily chores too. A perfect home isn't my goal... just relatively tidy and welcoming for when my husband gets off work.
Posted by: Ellie | Friday, February 02, 2007
Jenn, you have given me a lot to think about! I am a morning person, so I usually would say I like to clean in the morning. BUT - you bring up excellent points. I am always re-cleaning at the end of the day, lol. And since myhusband gets home around 5, I could have (take) the time to really focus on my tasks at this time ...
One thing I will say, I need to work on having the boys do more!
Thanks for an inspiring post!
Posted by: Dawn | Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I should have mentioned two things. 1) I'm not a morning person. I used to be, but as of late I am really struggling in the morning. And since there is no naptimes for a break...I listen to my body and stay in bed later.
2) My son helps me in all sorts of ways, but we're not there completely there for all household cleaning.
Thanks so much for all the sweet comments!
Posted by: JennGM | Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Hi Jenn
I'm trying to figure out when to get things done too. I haven't been able to fall into any kind of routine yet ~ I prefer to take it easy in the early mornings and cuddle with my baby girl ~ which she really likes ~ so early mornings aren't a good time for me either. By night I'm ready to relax not work. Sigh. I also can't remember things very well lately ~ like what I'm doing or supposed to be getting etc. ~ it's very frustrating. I'm hoping it'll all fall into place soon . . .
Posted by: Kira | Friday, February 09, 2007
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