One of My Favorite Life Balance Tools Did you know that today, 62% of women, after working all day, will go home and start dinner all by themselves? And after dinner most will clean up the kitchen all by themselves.
What's wrong with this picture? We learn about team building at work...
but most of us don't bring those skills to play in the privacy of our homes.
I laughed in my seminars when I say "My children have always known there is no such thing at Kitchen Fairies! Food doesn't magically show up!" I believe that's why my son is a Chef today.
He knew if Mom was in the kitchen, grab a chair and join her.
Even a 3 year old can scrub a potato or help set the table.
And today with technology, kids are actually smarter than most parents regarding that industry.
So show them the buttons on the dishwasher and dials on the washing machine.
My grandson has been helping with laundry since he was 3.
He is fascinated with watching the clothes go round since his parents have a glass door on their washing machine.
He's quick to pick up any dirty clothes that get left behind by Mom, Dad, his brother or sisters.
He's almost working poor Mom too much...
There are many tools I use to balance my life and this is one of my favorites.
You don't need a big family to play.
When I married a bachelor who was a workaholic, he had hired a maid his entire bachelor life so didn't have a clue what it took to keep a house clean or be a part of that team.
So we played this game with him.
Yes you must call it a game...
otherwise no one is going to want to come to the table.
The instructions to this game are next so that you can print this out and then hold a KTC (Kitchen Table Conference) and use it.
Let me know about YOUR results.
How to Play This Game: Call a K.
T.
C.
(Kitchen Table Conference) and ask that each family member bring a pencil.
Tell them, they just inherited the house, congratulations.
Now, they'll want to throw a celebration party so what will it take to get the house ready for the party? Each person puts their initials beside the job they're willing to take as the paper is passed from person-to-person.
The "ugly jobs" are rotated so that the same person doesn't get that job week after week.
Post this paper of the fridge and now get to work...
as a team.
This game helps everyone realize there is no such thing as "Dustin' Fairies" that enter the house and magically clean up.
It's the opportunity we are given to be a part of the family team.
You Just Inherited the House ____Floors - Sweep and Mop ____Fans - Dust ____Windows - Dust and Clean ____Vacuum Floors ____Shake Area Rugs ____Empty Dishwasher ____Wash Dishes ____Sweep Front and Back Porches ____Dust Furniture ____Dust Mirrors and Picture Frames, Etc.
____Clean Microwave ____Clean Refrigerator ____Clean Stove ____Clean Counter Tops ____Scrub Tubs ____Scrub Sinks ____Make Beds ____Wash Laundry ____Fold Laundry ____Put Clothes Away ____Dust Lamps ____Clean Mirrors Ugly Jobs - ____Toilet Cleaning ____Empty and Clean Litter Box ____Empty Trash Miscellaneous - ____Clean Pool ____Cut Grass ____Rake Leaves ____Weed Garden ____Water Plants Inside and Out ____Water Yard ____Wash Outside of Car ____Clean Inside of Car ____Bathe Animals/Pets ____Scrub Fingerprints from Walls and Switch Plates