Friday, September 12, 2008

Our Official Laundry Guy

I have always joked around saying "I believe in child labor." Well of course, I don't believe in real child labor...but I sure do believe in kids having chores, jobs and responsibilities in the home. Ours do and have for some time. I think a family should work together in maintaining and keeping the home and home life happy and running smoothly. Now that doesn't mean mine always is...but it's much more likely to run smoothly if everyone is working together, because then I'm not so stressed with it falling all on my shoulders. Besides, sharing responsibilities in the household helps build a sense of worth and accomplishment, which in turn builds character.

Of course when the kids were little, these chores were small things, but as they grow...so do their responsibilities. Colt is especially good at his (and has been for some time)....especially considering he's a guy (no offense intended here if you're a guy...just that sometimes boys don't think they should HAVE these jobs)! I've always told him that his future wife would love me for teaching him these things! When he was only nine, he was responsible for vacuuming the entire house. (I was expecting Joy at that time and we also had carpet everywhere). Later on he cleaned all three bathrooms...he had one on different days of the week (he didn't have the vacuuming job at that time just in case you think I'm a slave driver!) lol! Now sometimes I could have probably done a better job (or at least more to my standards), but I let him do it. I complimented him and showed him ways to make it better if necessary (in a nice way) and I learned to live with the towels not folded like I would have folded them or being put up not as neatly stacked.



Here's where the title of this post comes in. See the picture above? Well when he turned fourteen (I believe), we taught him how to take care of the laundry. He's had a few mishaps of pens in the dryer or things fading, but then so have I! He's actually a pro at doing laundry now! At age nineteen, he is STILL our official laundry guy (his two main responsibilities are the laundry and taking care of the trash these days). I figure as a college student working and studying....that's plenty! He's learned how to keep the laundry rolling. He does the majority of it (only leaving Joy's to me because she has so many things that have to be washed separately that I let him off the hook with hers). You can see him at any given time....especially late at night catching up on laundry while he's talking on the phone....or texting....or listening to music. He's really learned to multi-task....he's quite the King-of-Multi-Tasking these days! Now you can see why he was so excited over our new dryer that we got a couple of months back? As a matter of fact when we go in Lowe's or Home Depot (and he's with us)....we'll walk by those beautiful red side by side washer and dryers....and he'll drool over them....saying...one day I'm going to have some of those.....that's what you can get me as a wedding present! lol!

And he cooks too......and loves to cook! I think he was whipping us up some kind of sandwiches this day.



But now Joy is the age that her responsibilities are growing. She is now nine. She has lucked out in a way though. We no longer have carpet everywhere like we did when Colt was nine....we only have it in the bedrooms (and unfortunately still on our stairs). Jason and I were just talking the other night about the fact that her responsibilities need to be increased real soon. She's like me though....she'll definitely have to use a list to go by or she'll get too distracted....bless her heart! But ONE DAY.....Joy will be our official laundry girl.......

18 comments:

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Tammy...go to And Baby Makes Five.
Rondell

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

He'll make some girl VERY happy one day with those priceless skills, Tammy!

Come on over... because you won my giveaway this morning!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, you did get lucky this time. You said it was your time to win something. Knowing you, you will really enjoy the gifts. I enjoyed your blog today.

Love,
Betty

Daffodil Hill said...

I'm glad to see you training your kids to do household chores. When we started homeschooling, Papa offered to have someone come in and help me clean, but I turned down the offer. I considered "life skills" part of our curriculum. All 4 of our kids learned how to do housework, cook, maintain a vehicle, and manage money. It is shocking to see how few young adults know how to do these things. Colt's wife (and any other future roommates) will be thankful for his skills.

The Gathering Room said...

right on Mom! I agree, his wife will love you one day!

Siri said...

Tammy,

Congrats on winning the fall giveway! I really enjoyed your blog today. I do agree that all children should have chores not matter what gender. It teaches them how to take care of themselve and not be so dependent on others to do for them. Bravo! Prim Blessings,

Siri

ohiofarmgirl said...

I love your stained glass, it looks beautiful. Also, I too believe that kids should have chores. We have certain chores for each child too. Dianntha

Michele said...

Hi Tammy...ummmm, can Colt come and live with me??? That's great that he can cook and do the laundry!!!

Congrats on winning the giveaway!

Hugz,
Michele

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

We also gave our kid's chores and responsibilities and now our son is the cook in his house! When he first bought his own house, he was a single guy on his own. He had no problem doing it all. His wife sure is blessed because he is just as good at all household chores as she is! Colt sounds like he will be too.

COngrats on winning Colleen's give away!

Anonymous said...

Tammy...
CONGRATULATIONS on winning Colleen's giveaway! That is sooo neat!! :) I'm so tickled that you won!!

I also agree with the others, that it is really great that Colt knows how to cook, clean and do laundry. Makes a Mom proud, that's for sure, to know her son can do all these things, and to do them very well! :) I also think that Colt's wife would be so very happy that you took the time to teach Colt how to do these household chores at home... I know I love it when I have help doing these things in our home.

It does teach them responsibility and also teaches them how to make it out on their own, and on to becoming an independant, responsible person. I do believe that it makes them feel soo good, knowing that they know how to take good care of themselves...and others too...

You and your family have a wonderful weekend Tammy!

Love & Blessings,
~Lynn/Okc

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

This is wonderful Tammy, I love it when guys do laundry!!!! Train 'em young and they'll do ya proud!!
Blessings,
Debbie

Jo-Anne said...

I agree with you 100%. My kids have always had responsibilities. We had a chore chart when they were little and every day they had one room to clean in addition to their own bedroom. They needed to be done with their work before playing or something. (great motivation!) As they got older, they each were assigned a day to do their own laundry. The first week we implemented that I felt a freedom I hadn't felt in YEARS! LOL! They are all very good workers now and I am VERY proud of ALL of them!! :)

Julie said...

Let's here is for chores!! Some girl will be thanking you someday for a husband who knows how to cook and do laundry--way to go!! Also, congrats on your win--LUCKY girl!! juie

Juri said...

I really enjoyed your post and agree that your son will make someone a wonderful husband someday. My son loves to cook (he is an adult) and when he comes to visit us for a few weeks, he does most of the cooking and, I have to admit, he has given me some very good recipes! I also agree that children need responsibilities! Okay, now I will go back and catch up on some of your other posts!

Juri

Joy ~ Doodlebug ~ said...

Mom,

Yep, he's going to make that girl VERY happy! Boy, is doing the laundry going to be a job!!! Well, I better get tips from Bubba(colt)!!! I LOVE to cook!! That will be fun!


Joy =D

Back in the Day said...

Tammy,
I agree about the child labor. Both of my kids have daily chores and let me tell ya, it has taken a load off of me! It seems when they know someone else is gonna clean up the mess, they make an even bigger one! My daughter has mastered getting her chores done quickly but my son who is 12 still likes to drag it out. But he is working on it!
I couldn't help but laugh with the thought of you taking pictures of him while he was working! Get the whip out girl! lol

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

That is amazing to have a son that likes to cook and helps with the laundry! I agree, he will be a fine husband one day!

Julie said...

Oh. I. HEAR. you!!!!
I COMPLETELY agree!!!! Ours have chores and have for years! I just don't understand why so many parents don't. I could go on and on on this subject, but really, I think you've said it all!
Our little boy is, also, almost 9 and we're going to have to up his chores, as well.
I'm going to have to make a new chore chart, soon, but I have to get my ducks in a row, first.....

That's so funny about your son drooling over those red washer & dryer sets! I'm doing the same thing!!!
We let our older washer & dryer go with our last home (we sold!)and bought new ones... and I had been saying for years that I was gonna get me that red set...but I chickened out when it came time to writing that check.
I got a new set for what just the washer cost!!! Because it was red!!! Isn't that crazy?!?!?
I'll just keep drooling.....

Blessings,
Julie