Less time cleaning house, More time with kids

The Globe and Mail had an article on how moms, including stay-at-home moms, are spending more time with their kids and less time cleaning house. So while the homefires are burning in a messier abode, moms are happier and more rested. No mention about home much more time, or less time, is spent by the dads in housekeeping or child-playing.

Here's the thing - who said the moms should be the only ones doing all the cleaning? What about the dads?(Perhaps a topic for another post.) And more importantly, what about the kids? One mom indicated that she tries to spend a few minutes here and there to pick up the kids' toys and clear the clutter created by the children. Another spoke of giving up on the "deep cleaning" like scrubbing floors and washing windows. And there was an air of resignation that this new messy life was the new order.

Now I am not one to preach about cleanliness being next to godliness. I've got 3 kids - the house has never been spic and span, and will probably never be while the kids live at home. I'm happy if the towels are hanging on the rack, the toys are mostly picked up, the dirty clothes are in the laundry hampers and garbage is contained. We don't live in a pig sty, but we will never be on the cover of Good Housekeeping. I've also given up on decorating my home until after my children move out. Until then, I'm content to live amongst toy bins, with stickers on the appliances, and finger paintings hanging on the fridge. I will draw the line at crayon art on the walls. (A girl has to have some standards.) I'm a realist when it comes to my home - it will be pleasantly cluttered, and I prefer the term "lived-in".

But the article seemed to indicate the task of housekeeping to fall soley on the overburdened shoulders of the woman. Again, I ask what about the kids who create 95% of the mess?

It's never to early to teach the importance of good citizenship, and to that end, we have given our children tasks they must complete. It's never termed as a chore. It's just something they do because they've been asked, and eventually, they realize it's part of the routine. Maybe it's my background in rhetoric, but I am strong proponent in using certain words and labels because of the meaning and images it conjures. Example, "chore" is a word often viewed negatively. it conjures up images of mucking out farm stalls, and shoulder high towering piles of laundry stacked next to the washing machine. Same with the word "task" or even worse, "assignment". So in our household, we use the word "job". This word gives our children the feeling they are contributing something important (which they are) by doing what they are asked to do. Pretty much the same idea as capitalizing on the toddler's desire to be a "helper".
All of our children have jobs to do. For instance, when they are done eating, (plastic) plates and cups are brought to the sink. Both Devlin and Ceilidh do this. They also take turns with helping to set the table before dinner. Another big thing in our home is cleaning up their toys, whenever they are done playing. Devlin is much better at this task. Ceilidh needs "help" when it's her turn to put away her toys. Aisling is already helping by "dusting" surfaces with a kleenex. She'll be in charge of the swiffer soon.
All three kids put their clothes into the laundry basket before getting into the bath. It's the cutest thing to watch Aisling waddle/toddle over to her laundry basket and throw her clothes in before running back to the bathroom. We encourage Devlin to put away his freshly laundered clothes. Ceilidh loves to help make weekend breakfasts with dad - although that might be contributing to the mess, rather than help clean it up. The older ones are learning to sweep up their spills with a broom and dustpan, or wipe up a soggy mess with a dishcloth.

So, I think it's possible to spend less time doing housekeeping chores but still live in a relatively clean house if you can get the troops involved. And with all the time that's saved, there will be even more time to spend with the kids. Unless you're one of those parents who consider housecleaning to be quality time.