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In just over seven years of being a parent, I’ve learned that getting my kids to clean the house is less about them and more about me.
For years, I said that it didn’t matter what they did or how they did it, as long as they were helping.
But who was I kidding?
After so many times of having to go back over their bathroom cleaning or laundry folding, they knew that wasn’t really the case. And even more so, their attitude mattered as well.
I didn’t want an eye-roll every time I asked them to fold laundry. Was it too much to ask them to WANT to help me? Evidently so.
Yes, we’ve tried the chore charts & allowance as motivation, but after awhile, my son just said (in his most selfless voice), “it’s OK mom, you can just keep the money”.
But just when I was about to give up and was sitting in my room by myself one day, my son came in and started playing a game next to me. Not long after, my daughter brought in the book she was reading and plopped down next to us. For awhile, no words were even exchanged. After several minutes had passed, I finally asked my son, “What are you doing here?”
Without a pause, he answered back, “I just want to be close to you.”
Once I finally grasped the concept that my children just wanted more of ME, I allowed them to be a part of my life more. Instead of shooing them away I was making dinner (under the guise of getting it done faster), I welcomed them in, regardless of whether it was to help or just sit and do homework.
If I was working on the computer, my son would just want to lay in my lap. And yes, if I was sitting on the floor doing laundry, they’d come sit in the pile with me.
I learned that getting my kids to help clean was less about ordering them around and more about modeling the desired behavior.After all, don’t our children follow our actions more than they listen to our words???
Now, I get out three spray bottles whenever it’s time to clean the bathroom instead of just one. Whenever possible, we work alongside each other and clean up each others’ messes! My standard isn’t perfection, but instead completion. If we can work together and finish what we set out to do, then I count that as a cleaning success. Once they get involved, not only do they feel a sense of accomplishment, but they are more likely to keep clean what they’ve already cleaned!
Of course, it’s always nice to have someone come in and do the cleaning for you so you can take the day off with your kiddos!
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of GreatCleaners. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the Arm & Hammer Brand.
