Another Day off.. Peacock style.

Well, spring break is over the half-past mark, but life has stayed every chaotic. Piano lessons, Girl Scouts, Cookie delivery, Girls on the Run, hair, Spas.. it's all pretty consuming. That said, I'm really making a point to enjoy my home. Now, my previous post was on the destruction of said abode, and I was going to time myself in getting it back in order. Remember a few things for me:

1. I have been keeping the kitchen tasks revolving. If my dishwasher isn't running, then it does NOT hold clean dishes. Empty RIGHT away, so it can catch all your dirty dishes for you, leaving your sink available.

2. If you have children, work them like you own them. Catchy eh? But seriously, I have been super guilty of feeling, well-- super guilty. When I was a kid, I had chores. I cleaned my room when told to, I watched my sisters, I cleaned the kitchen, I dusted and vacuumed. You know what? I turned out okay. (Silence from the peanut gallery please!)

So what I did, was delegate my friends. I put the bigger minions on bigger duties. They all had to pick up the living room. Straighten pillows, tables, and get all their stuff out of the room and put away. Then the 9 year old was handed a bottle of pledge and a rag and set to task. Without even being prompted, she moved from the living room to the dining room, and then hit the floor boards with it! The 7 year old took over with vacuuming the living and dining room. I then pulled out the hose attachment for her, and she cleaned up the kitchen floor. I took over in the mopping dept. I have one of those Swiffer Wet Jets, and in leui of using the replaceable pads, I have a microfiber pad meant for another floor cleaning kit (I'll look for a link) that I just attached to the pad holder.

Meanwhile, I went to work on the kitchen. Without being prompted, the oldest girl went to work in the entryway, doing everything from straightening shoes, to mopping! Gotta love those type "A" personalities! I kept the tiny minions out of the way by assigning them to cleaning up the wee boy minion's room. Not much was accomplished, but they were out from under everyone's feet.

When all was said and done, it had been an hour since we started. ONE HOUR. That's it. Popcorn and tv ensued, and there was great rejoicing.

Here is my picture proof:

Work that dust rag Minion! PUSH that vacuum! Mwahahahahah!

Whoah.

Can you hear the voices of the men's choir? Sooo perfect!

The Warden inspects.

So there you have it. If you have small children that take up destroying (er.. um, enjoying) your handiwork, just put them to work. It's amazing how empowere they are with a bottle of vinegar and water. They feel like they are doing big important work, and you don't have to worry about dangerous chemicals. Send them into the bathroom to clean (even if you have to do it again in a bit). Then praise the crap outta the job they did, streaks and all.
If they feel valued and that the work they did was appreciated, they'll be more willing to help more often. I mean, that proves true for me! If DH come's in and just shrugs when I say "Doesn't the house look great?" I end up with a screw it mindset. But if he gives me a "Wow" then my chest puffs up like a freakin' peacock.
I want my kids to feel like that all the time, just a flock of peacocks.
Strut you fab minions, just strut.